AUTHOR: UNKNOWN

LANGUAGE: LATIN

DATE: 1130

PAGE #: 508

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.75 X 8.75 IN

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HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS LARGE FORMAT COPY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY CREATED AT ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL PRIORY, ENGLAND, IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY. IT WAS PART OF A FIVE-VOLUME BIBLE, OF WHICH ONLY ONE OTHER VOLUME HAS SURVIVED AND IS IN THE BRITISH LIBRARY, LONDON. THE DECORATED INITIALS IN THESE MANUSCRIPTS COMPARE CLOSELY WITH THOSE IN OTHER BOOKS SECURELY ATTRIBUTED TO ROCHESTER. TEXTUALLY THESE BOOKS ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE GUNDULPH BIBLE, KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN PRODUCED AT ROCHESTER IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE ELEVENTH CENTURY. ALTHOUGH, NEITHER THE WALTER’S NOR THE BRITISH LIBRARY’S VOLUME INCLUDES AN INSCRIPTION ASSOCIATING THIS BIBLE WITH THE ROCHESTER, THE TWO MEDIEVAL CATALOGS OF THE ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL LIBRARY, PRODUCES AROUND 1130 AND IN 1202, CONTAIN REFERENCES TO THE MANUSCRIPTS THAT CORRESPOND WELL WITH THEM.

THIS BOOKS ORIGINAL LARGE SIZE INDICATES THAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE READ ALOUD, EITHER DURING SERVICES OR AT MEALS IN THE REFECTORY. LARGE, FANCIFUL INITIALS FILLED WITH SUCCULENT FOLIAGE, FRUIT, DRAGONS, ANIMALS, AND HUMAN FACES BEGIN EACH SECTION OF THE TEXT. EXECUTED IN A VIBRANT PALETTE OF RED, BLUE, GREEN, OCHRE (IN PLACE OF GOLD), AND YELLOW, THE INTRICATE, DYNAMIC DESIGNS CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF ROMANESQUE MANUSCRIPT ILLUMINATION. THE OTHER MANUSCRIPTS ALSO INCLUDES FOUR HISTORIATED INITIALS (FOR THE BOOKS OF JOSHUA, 1 SAMUEL, 2 SAMUEL, AND 2 KINGS). ALTHOUGH THE BIBLE WAS MADE AT ROCHESTER, THE PRE-GOTHIC SCRIPT OF W18 IN PARTICULAR IS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THAT PRACTICED AT NEARBY CANTERBURY AT THE TIME.

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.