Description
Exemplary of the much-sought 1990 German facsimile edition of the famous codex known as the Book of Kells. Edition is out of print for some time.
Original manuscript dated in year c. 800 and currently preserved in the Library of Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland), signature Ms. 58 (A.I.6). A very precious work and considered as Treasure of Ireland.
Limited edition and numbered of 1,480 copies, of which 740 were for the market in English language.
Facsimile bound in fine white leather, format 25 x 33 cm, 680 pages.
The study book (in German or English) contains 400 pages. Authors: Dr. J. J. Alexander, Professor of Art History at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York; Anthony Cain, Chief, Department of Conservation, Trinity College Library, Dublin; Geraóid MacNiocaill, Professor of History, University of Galway; Dr. Patrick McGurk, Professor of Medieval History, Birkbeck College, University of London; And Dr Bernard Meehan, Head of the Department of Manuscripts, Trinity College Library, Dublin. Editor of the German volume comment volume is Prof. Dr. Anton von Euw, curator at the Schnütgen Museum Cologne and Professor of History of Medieval Art at the University of Cologne. World-renowned author Umberto Eco wrote an enthusiastic preface.
To protect the facsimile is accompanied by a case specially designed for this work, handmade, and in the exterior are reflected several symbolic elements of the Book in silver and brass in relief.
In our website we offer a much more economical alternative to this extraordinary edition.
The Book of Kells (sometimes known as the Book of Columba) is a manuscript of dazzling beauty containing the four Gospels along with various introductory texts and tables. It is regarded as Ireland’s most treasured national treasure, and is generally regarded as the finest illuminated manuscript that has come to us from medieval Europe. Although historically it is a very important codex; However, it is not an overly illuminated manuscript, it has few full-size mini-pages but many capitular letters and letters both at the beginning of the line and in it.
The Book of Kells was created by Celtic monks about 800 or slightly earlier and was never completed. The text of the Gospels is drawn largely from the Vulgate, although it also includes some passages extracted from previous versions of the Bible known as the Vetus Latina. It is a masterpiece of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of island lighting. The illustrations and ornaments of the Book of Kells are greater than those of other books because of their extravagance and complexity. The decoration combines traditional Christian iconography adorned with the typical swirling motifs of the island art. The figures of humans, animals and mythical beasts, along with Celtic knots and patterns interlaced in vibrant colors, animate the pages of the manuscript. Many of these smaller decorative elements are impregnated with Christian symbolism.
The manuscript today comprises 340 folios and, since 1953, has been consolidated into four volumes. The leaves (currently 25.5 x 33 cm, since they were severely cut in the 19th century) are of high quality parchment (calf skin, calf ready), and the unprecedented elaborate ornamentation that covers them includes ten Full-page illustrations and text pages with decorated initials, works by at least three different scribes. The letters are in ferrogallic ink, and the colors used were obtained from a wide range of substances, many of which were imports from distant countries. However, in many leaves it is evident that the passage of more than 12 centuries has left its mark on them.
The manuscript owes its name to the abbey of Kells which was its home for centuries. Today it is on permanent display at the Trinity College Library in Dublin, where two of the four volumes are currently displayed at one time, one showing a main illustration and one showing pages with the typical text Of the work.
Only available copy of this great facsimile edition and in perfect condition.
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