Vellum is prepared animal skin or membrane, typically used as writing material. Parchment is another term for this material, from which vellum is sometimes distinguished, when it is made from calfskin, as opposed to that made from other animals, or otherwise being of higher quality. Vellum is prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices, or books. References: Wikipedia
Below are some examples and price guides of musical manuscripts made from vellum including an illuminated manuscript and some Medieval fragments.
ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM
Liber evangeliorum ac epistolarum pro festis solemnibus, text entirely stencilled in imitation of roman type, pp.1-17 with 8 lines of text, each under a line of music consisting of square neumes on four-line red staves, pp.18-122 with 17 long lines, pp.124-126 with 21 long lines, ruled in lead with single bounding lines, running titles and lesser section titles with red roman capitals, major section titles with multi-coloured decorative initials, 4- or 3-line square initial spaces, initials with floral or historiated backgrounds and space reserved for large roman capitals, floral headpieces preceding each feast, some including historiated vignettes, floral or decorative cartouches following the epistle in many sections, incomplete decoration in places, small natural flaw to blank margin of the leaf paginated 53-54, otherwise in clean fresh condition with some very light soiling, re-cased in original binding of red velvet over pasteboards, housed in a morocco case, 333 x 225mm., France, Ambronay, 1740
Sold for £6,120 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2022
Music
A study group of noted medieval fragments and leaves, in Latin, manuscripts on vellum [Europe, 11th to 14th centuries]
Examples of musical notation in Europe from the 11th to the 14th centuries.
Sold for GBP 4,410 at Christie’s in 2021
![[MUSICAL MANUSCRIPT] Unusual half-moon-shaped manuscript on vellum](https://antiquemusicals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/vellum-half-moon.jpg)
[MUSICAL MANUSCRIPT] Unusual half-moon-shaped manuscript on vellum.
Apparently intended for the surface of a presentation fan for Madame Charles Bataille (to whom most of the musical signatures and quotations are dedicated). Madame Bataille was the wife of the noted French bass Charles Bataille, who created roles in many of their works. The quotations include Victor Roger, a musical phrase signed, with lyrics, from his operetta Les 28 jours de Clairette; Gabrielle Pierne, an autograph musical quote signed, likely from his La Coup enchantée; Cecile Chaminade, a signed quote from her work Les Reves, complete with lyrics; Lois Ganne, autograph musical quote signed from his mazurka La Czarine; Augusta Holmes, autograph musical quote signed, with lyrics, from Contes des Fées; Angel Flegier, a quote from a work entitled Stances; Gaston Serpette, a quote with lyrics from his opera La Capitole; and Francis Thome, quote from his work Chanson de Musette. Minor creases and tears, small losses to the lower margin, the whole backed with thin paper.
Sold for $500 (includes buyer’s premium)at Doyle in 2020
Medieval 16th Century Hand Illuminated Music Sheet on Vellum. Antique Gilt Frame 17.50″ x 25″
Sold for US$125 at Great Estates Auctioneers & Appraisers in 2022
1604 AD SPANISH ANTIPHONAL MSS MUSICAL SHEETS
Spanish antiphonal music sheets on large pieces of vellum, one framed. Music dates back in 1604 AD as Roman Catholic liturgical music, chant melodies.Size: 18.5 x 31″ Framed
Sold for US$110 at Florida Estate Sales Inc. in 2023
