AUTHOR: SAINT COLUMBA

LANGUAGE: LATIN

DATE: 650-700 AD

PAGE #: 490

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THE BOOK OF DURROW IS THE OLDEST EXTANT COMPLETE ILLUMINATED INSULAR GOSPEL, FOR EXAMPLE PREDATING THE BOOK OF KELLS BY OVER A CENTURY. THE TEXT INCLUDES THE GOSPELS OF MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN, PLUS SEVERAL PIECES OF PREFATORY MATTER AND CANNON TABLES. IT CONTAINS A LARGE ILLUMINATION PROGRAMME INCLUDING SIX EXTANT CARPET PAGES, A FULL PAGE MINIATURE OF THE FOUR EVANGELISTS’ SYMBOLS, FOUR FULL PAGE MINIATURES, EACH CONTAINING A SINGLE EVANGELIST SYMBOL, AND SIX PAGES WITH SIGNIFICANT DECORATED INITIALS AND TEXT. IT IS WRITTEN IN MAJUSCULE INSULAR SCRIPT. THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BOOK SHOWS ESPECIALLY WELL THE VARIED ORIGINS OF THE INSULAR STYLE, AND HAS BEEN A FOCUS FOR THE INTENSE ART-HISTORICAL DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE. ONE THING THAT IS CLEAR THAT THE ARTIST WAS UNUSED TO REPRESENTING THE HUMAN FIGURE; HIS MAIN ATTEMPT, THE MAN SYMBOL FOR MATTHEW, HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A “WALKING BUCKLE”.
SAINT COLUMBA FOUNDED A NUMBER OF MONASTERIES IN THE SIXTH CENTURY, INCLUDING DURROW. ACCORDING TO TRADITION, COLUMBA WAS HIMSELF AN ARDENT COPYIST AND IS REPORTED TO HAVE WRITTEN 300 MANUSCRIPTS IN HIS OWN HAND. INDEED, LEGEND REPORTS THAT IT WAS A DISPUTE OVER THE POSSESSION OF A MANUSCRIPT WHICH LED TO HIS SELF-EXILE TO IONA IN 565.
THE BOOK OF DURROW WAS LOST IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY, AT THE TIME OF THE DISSOLUTION OF DURROW ABBEY, BUT WAS RECOVERED ABOUT 100 YEARS LATER. THE MANUSCRIPT WAS REBOUND IN 1896-1900 BY ROGER POWELL. POWELL WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRESERVATION AND REBINDING OF MANY OTHER FAMOUS WORKS LIKE THE BOOK OF KELLS, BOOK OF DIMMA, BOOK OF ARMAGH, AND THE LIBER HYMNORUM.
TODAY THE BOOK OF DURROW IS HOUSED AT THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY COLLEGE IN DUBLIN IRELAND.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.