AUTHOR: PRIEST LAZAR AT THE MONASTERY OF SURB AWGSEND

LANGUAGE: ARMENIAN

DATE: 1488

PAGE #: 570

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.75 X 8.75 IN

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HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS MANUSCRIPT WAS WRITTEN IN 937 OF THE ARMENIAN ERA, 1488 CE, IN THE PROVINCE OF EKELEAC’ BY THE PRIEST LAZAR AT THE MONASTERY OF SURB AWGSEND (ST. AUXENTIUS). THOUGH THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT WAS NOT A TERRIBLY COSTLY PRODUCTION, IT LATER CAME TO BE HOUSED IN A MAGNIFICENT BINDING WITH LARGE SILVER PLAQUES SHOWING THE PRESENTATION OF THE CHRIST CHILD IN THE TEMPLE ON THE FRONT AND THE ASCENSION ON THE BACK. THE SILVER BINDINGS WHICH CAN BE ASSIGNED TO THE SEVENTEENTH OR EARLY EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, WAS LIKELY PRODUCED IN KAYSERI (TURKEY). THE MANUSCRIPT’S FIFTEENTH CENTURY EVANGELIST PORTRAITS SHOW SIGNS OF MONGOLIAN ARTISTIC INFLUENCE, STEMMING FROM THE TIME WHEN MONGOLS HAD CONQUERED THE PROVINCE. FOR A MANUSCRIPT OF SIMILAR STYLE, SEE THE GOSPELS IN JERUSALEM COPIED BY MAGHAK’IA IN 1497. THE WALTERS’ SILVER GOSPELS WAS USED OVER A LONG PERIOD BY A SUCCESSION OF OWNERS. INFORMATION ABOUT ITS HISTORY IS GIVEN IN ITS COLOPHONS AND OWNERSHIP INSCRIPTIONS ON THE CODEX’S FINAL FOLIOS. ONE NOTE INDICATES THAT THE BOOK WAS REBOUND IN 1626 AND OFFERED TO THE CHURCH OF SURB ASTUACACIN (HOLY THEOTOKOS) IN MEMORY OF CARUK, KIRAKOS, AND GIRIGOR. THE LAST DATE GIVEN IS THE ARMENIAN YEAR 1161, 1712 CE, WHICH MAY BE WHEN THE MANUSCRIPTS WAS REBOUND.

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.