Great Canterbury Psalter

Alternative Titles: Anglo-Catalan Psalter or Paris Psalter

Date: 1200-1350

Language: Latin

Page #: 354

Facsimile size: 11.25 x 8.75 inches

The Great Canterbury Psalter was made in two different parts and styles. The first section comes from the English Canterbury (184 pages) around the year 1200. The second part is the Spanish Canterburry (172 pages) from 1350.

The National Library of France (MS lat. 8846) is the current owner of this unique manuscript. The Great Canterbury Psalter, which contains the three Latin versions of the Psalms attributed to St. Jerome, was partly produced in England and partly in Spain. The exciting work of art contains over 140 miniatures by first class book masters, who depict the prevailing conceptual world of their time in pictures. Numerous decorative initials and gold embellishments additionally decorate the text. The English part originates from a time in which Late Romanesque painting was being gradually supplanted by the painting of the world of Gothic. The full-page miniatures and charming initials show influences from the masterworks of Late Gothic book art. The Spanish Catalonian part of the manuscript is oriented on 14th century Italian painting. Both parts of the books are of excellent quality and reflect new artistic ideas alongside classical traditions.

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.

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