EVANGELIORUM QUATTUOR CODEX LINDISFARNESIS, MUSEI BRITANNICI...

Estimate

R22,000 - R25,000

EVANGELIORUM QUATTUOR CODEX LINDISFARNESIS, MUSEI BRITANNICI CODEX COTTONIANUS NERO D. IV PERMISSIONE MUSEI BRITANNICI TOTIUS CODICES SIMILITUDO EXPRESSA. (THE LINDISFARNE GOSPELS, FACSIMILIE REPRINT, 2 VOLS.) Geneva: In Aedibus Urs Graf (1956-1960) Fo. Vol. 1: Facsimilie of the original Lindisfarne Gospel. Hardcover. Original velum binding with black lettering to spine, and gemoetric pattern inlaid to front board. With several colour plates. Vol. 2: Hardcover. Textual commentry volume. Original quarter vellum binding, with red lettering to spine. Xxiv + 295 + 176. With 60 monochrome and colour plates. Both volumes printed on fine paper.
LIMITED EDITION FACSIMILE REPRINT WITH TEXTUAL COMMENTRY, IN 2 VOLUMES. VOL. 1 (FACSIMILIE OF TEXT) IS NUMBERED 280 OF 680 COPIES PRINTED. TEXTUAL COMMENTRY VOLUME ALSO LIMITED TO 680 COPIES, BUT UNNUMBERED.

The Lindisfarne Gospels is an illuminated manuscript gospel book probably produced around the years 715-720 in the monastery at Lindisfarne, off the coast of Northumberland, which is now in the British Library in London.vThe manuscript is one of the finest works in the unique style of Hiberno-Saxon or Insular art, combining Mediterranean, Anglo-Saxon and Celtic elements.
The Lindisfarne Gospels are presumed to be the work of a monk named Eadfrith, who became Bishop of Lindisfarne in 698 and died in 721. Current scholarship indicates a date around 715, and it is believed they were produced in honour of St. Cuthbert. However, some parts of the manuscript were left unfinished so it is likely that Eadfrith was still working on it at his time of death. It is also possible that he produced them prior to 698, in order to commemorate the elevation of Cuthbert's relics in that year, which is also thought to have been the occasion for which the St Cuthbert Gospel (also British Library) was produced. The Gospels are richly illustrated in the insular style and were originally encased in a fine leather treasure binding covered with jewels and metals made by Billfrith the Anchorite in the 8th century. During the Viking raids on Lindisfarne this jewelled cover was lost and a replacement was made in 1852. The text is written in insular script, and is the best documented and most complete insular manuscript of the period.

Vol. 1: Light rubbing to the boards and spine, and a few minor stains to the rear board. Very small stains and minor wrinkling to the top corners of rear free endpaper and the last few pages. Very minor foxing to the front and rear pastedowns. Vol. 2: Very light rubbing to boards and spine. Very slight foxing to edges of textblock. A few minor instances of foxing to a few pages. Overall both volumes have clean and clear text, and are solidly bound.