AUTHOR: DIMMA MACNATHI

LANGUAGE: LATIN

DATE: 8TH CENTURY

PAGE #: 152

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THE BOOK OF DIMMA IS AN EIGHTH CENTURY IRISH POCKET GOSPEL BOOK, ORIGINALLY FROM THE ABBEY OF ROSCREA, FOUNDED BY ST. CRONAN IN COUNTY TIPPERARY, IRELAND. IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR GOSPELS, IN BETWEEN THE GOSPELS OF LUKE AND JOHN, IT HAS AN ORDER FOR THE UNCTION AND COMMUNION OF THE SICK. THE SURVIVING ILLUMINATION OF THE MANUSCRIPT IS A NUMBER OF ILLUMINATED INITIALS, THREE EVANGELIST PORTRAIT PAGES, AND ONE PAGE WITH AN EVANGELIST’S SYMBOL. THE POCKET GOSPEL BOOK IS DISTINCTIVELY INSULAR IN FORMAT, OF WHICH THE BOOK OF MULLING IS ANOTHER LEADING EXAMPLE.
A WELL KNOWN LEGEND RELATES THAT CRONAN ASKED A MONK NAMED DIMMA TO COPY THE BOOK, BUT THAT IT HAD TO BE DONE IN ONE DAY. DIMMA SET TO WORK ON THIS IMPOSSIBLE TASK AND COPIED CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT A BREAK FOR ANY MEALS. ALL THE WHILE HE WORKED THE SUN NEVER SET. WHEN DIMMA FINISHED, HE THOUGHT THAT IT HAD ONLY TAKEN HIM ONE DAY, WHEN IN REALITY IT HAD TAKEN FORTY. THIS MIRACLE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO CRONAN.

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.

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.