AUTHOR: AT LEAST THREE SCRIBES

LANGUAGE: GREEK

DATE: 350

PAGE #: 828

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS:

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HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: CODEX SINAITICUS IS THE OLDEST MANUSCRIPT THAT CONTAINS A COMPLETE COPY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, AS WELL AS A PARTIAL OLD TESTAMENT, AND OTHER EARLY CHRSITIAN TEXTS NOT FOUND IN MODERN BIBLES. THIS MANUSCRIPT CONTAINS OVER 400 LEAVES WRITTEN IN MAJUSCULE STYLE ON LARGE LEAVES OF PREPARED ANIMAL SKINS, WITH EXTENSIVE CORRECTIONS MADE THROUGHOUT THE TEXTS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT A MINIMUM OF THREE SCRIBES CREATED THIS MANUSCRIPT DURING THE MID FOURTH CENTURY IN THE SOUTH-EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION; INFORMATION THAT WAS OBTAINED THROUGH PALAGEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS.

THE MONASTERY OF SAINT CATHERINE AT MOUNT SINAI IS WHERE CODEX SINAITICUS HAD BEEN PRESERVED UNTIL THE MID 19TH CENTURY. THE FIRST WRITTEN RECORD OF THE MANUSCRIPT WAS IN 1761 WHEN THE MONASTERY RECEIVED AN ITALIAN VISITOR THAT MADE MENTION OF THE CODEX IN HIS JOURNAL. AFTER THAT THE CODEX RECEIVED SEVERAL ADMIRERS BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 1844 WHEN CONSTANTINE TISCHENDORF, A GERMAN BIBLICAL SCHOLAR, WOULD CHANGE THE FATE OF THIS MANUSCRIPT. THE MONKS INTRODUCED TISCHENDORF TO A PORTION OF CODEX SINAITICUS, OF WHICH HE TOOK 43 LEAVES BACK WITH HIM TO LEIPZIG. AGAIN RETURNING IN 1859 WHERE HE REQUESTED THE TRANSFER OF THE CODEX TO CAIRO IN ORDER TO TRANSCRIBE THE ENTIRE TEXT.

THROUGHOUT THE DECADES THE CODEX HAS BEEN SPLIT AMONG FOUR INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE NOW PARTNERED UP IN ORDER TO STUDY AND PRESERVE THE CODEX. 347 LEAVES ARE AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY, 43 LEAVES REMAIN AT THE LIBRARY IN LEIPZIG, THE PIECES OF 6 OF THE LEAVES CAN BE FOUND AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF RUSSIA IN SAINT PETERSBURG, AND LASTLY THE REMAINING PAGES STILL AT THE MONASTERY OF SAINT CATHERINE. THE DETAILED RECENT HISTORY AND TRAVELS OF THE CODEX SINAITICUS IS GATHERED FROM ALL FOUR INSTITUTIONS AND COMPILED INTO ONE SOURCE.

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.