AUTHOR: THREE SCRIBES

LANGUAGE: LATIN

DATE: 8TH CENTURY

PAGE #: 215

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THE BOOK OF MULLING OR LESS COMMONLY, BOOK OF MOLING, IS AN IRISH POCKET GOSPEL BOOK FROM THE LATE EIGHTH CENTURY. THE TEXT COLLECTION INCLUDES THE FOUR GOSPELS, A LITURGICAL SERVICE WHICH INCLUDES THE “APOSTLES’ CREED”, AND IN THE COLOPHON, A SUPPOSED PLAN OF ST. MOLING’S MONASTERY ENCLOSED BY TWO CONCENTRIC CIRCLES. THE SCRIPT IS A FINE IRISH MINUSCULE. THIS IS IN FACT ONE OF THE LATEST SURVIVING DOCUMENTS TO USE THE HIGH STYLE IN ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS. THE DECORATION INCLUDES ILLUMINATED INITIALS AND THREE SURVIVING EVANGELIST PORTRAITS: THOSE OF MATTHEW, MARK, AND JOHN. THE POCKET GOSPEL BOOK IS A DISTINCTIVELY INSULAR FORMAT, OF WHICH THE BOOK OF MULLING IS A LEADING EXAMPLE.

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.