Manuscript: The Psalms of David in Spanish, c1725

Handwritten copy of all 150 Psalms by Christopher Russell, 17th Foot, Minorca

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Printing Details

This is a handwritten copy of the full 150 Psalms of David, in Spanish by Lt.-Col. Christopher Russell of the 17th Foot whilst serving in Minorca in the Balearic Islands.

The manuscript is in a worn leather binding, with the handwriting in brown ink in measured handwriting, and fills the entire book. The manuscript begins with the tradition title for Psalter in Spanish (Psaltesio o Psalms de David, apuntados como ellos son para ser cantados o rerados en las Iglesias), followed by each Psalm being numbered, from I to CL.

A later family member (The Rev Cecil Russell) has annotated the endpaper in 1826 to state that this translation is by Christopher Russell. Christopher Russell (1679—1729), served with the 17th Foot in Minorca in the capacity of Lieutenant-Governor of the island. The 17th Foot were stationed in Minorca from 1725 on garrison duty after the Royal Navy had captured the island in 1708, before being fully incorporated as a territory of Great Britain under the terms of Article XI of the Treaty of Utrecht.

The family member, Rev Cecil Russell, was Rector of Drumcree in County Westmeath.

Condition

The leather binding is in poor condition, with the front board detached and the leather has come loose from the board. Similar is starting to the rear board but not as bad, with the board still attached. The top half of the backstrip is lacking, the lower half attached at the rear joint only, with the string being exposed. The front endpapers (those annotated by Cecil Russell are detached) but the main body of Lt.-Col. Russell's Spanish translation is in good order. The pages are a little age-toned but the writing legible on every page. The inner binding is weakened and is pulled in places, but remains intact but will need gentle handling.

Further images are available on request.

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