Research Guides: Manuscript Facsimiles: Religious Texts

Psalters

What is a Psalter? A work typically containing the book of Psalms with other material.

The Paris Psalter: Ms. Bibliothèque nationale fonds Latin 8824. 1958.
12th Century. A Byzantine illuminated psalter and an example of the resurgence of Byzantine art in 10th century.
The Vespasian Psalter. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1967.
8th Century. An Anglo-Saxon illuminated psalter.
The Stuttgart Psalter, Biblia folio 23. [Princeton]: Pub. for the Department of Art and Archaeology of Princeton University, 1930.
9th Century. A splendidly decorated psalter from the Carolingian period.

Biblical Texts

What are Biblical Texts? Texts emanating from the Christian Bible, but not the entire Bible. Includes the Gospels (the first four books of the Bible--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

The Book of Kells. Luzern: Offizin Mengis + Sticher AG, 1990
9th Century. The Book of Kells is an Irish illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin. Commentary volume is also in Special Collections' rare books: ND3359.K4 B6524 1990.
The Lorsch Gospels. New York: George Braziller, 1967.
8-9th Century. An illuminated German Gospel book.
Evangeliorum quattuor Codex Lindisfarnensis. Oltun et Lausanna Helvetiae: Urs Graf, 1956.
8th Century. An illuminated manuscript Gospel from Ireland.
The Cloisters Apocalypse. 1971.
14th Century. An illustrated book of Revelation.
The Golden Gospels of Echternach, Codex Aureus Epternacensis. New York: Praeger, 1957.
7th Century. An illuminated gospel book containing Vulgate versions of four Gospels with additional prefatory material.
The Durham Gospels: together with fragments of a gospel book in uncial, Durham, Cathedral Library, MS A. II. 17. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1980.
7th Century. An insular Gospel book.
The Old English Illustrated Hexateuch: British Museum Cotton Claudius B. IV. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1974
11th Century. A vernacular translation of the first six books of the Old Testament into Anglo-Saxon.

Book of Hours

What is a Book of Hours? A layperson's Christian devotional book, containing prayers for recitation at different times, or "hours," of the day. Usually in Latin and often highly illustrated.

The Hours of Catherine of Cleves. New York: G. Braziller, 1966.
15th Century. A lavishly decorated book of hours, containing the usual offices, prayers and litanies.
The Très Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry. Musée Condé, Chantilly. New York: G. Braziller, 1969.
15th Century. A book of hours often regarded as the most famous and perhaps the best surviving example of the French Gothic style of manuscript illumination.
The Belles Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry: The Cloisters, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: G. Braziller, 1974.
15th Century. A book of hours commissioned by John, Duke of Berry and richly decorated.
The Visconti Hours: National Library, Florence. New York: George Braziller, 1972.
14th Century. A book of hours commissioned for the Duke of Milan created by two master illuminators of the time.
The Rohan Master: A Book of Hours: Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris (M.S. Latin 9471). 1973.
15th Century. An illuminated manuscript book of hours created by the anonymous artist known as the Rohan Master.

Other Books

Aelfric's First Series of Catholic Homilies; British Museum, Royal 7 C. XII, Fols. 4-218. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1966.
10th Century. A work of Anglo-Saxon prose containing many Old English homilies.
The Moore Bede; An Eighth Century Manuscript of the Venerable Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum in Cambridge University Library (Kk. 5.16). [Copenhagen]: [Rosenkilde and Bagger], 1959
8th Century. An early manuscript version of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People.
The Rule of St. Benedict. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Hatton 48. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1968.
5-6th Century. A book of instructions for monks living communally under an abbot and sometimes regarded as the foundational text of Western monasticism
The Durham Ritual; A Southern English Collectar of the Tenth Century with Northumbrian Additions. Durham Cathedral Library A. IV. 19. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1969.
10th Century. A book describing the fusion of the Roman and Gallican rites as practiced in the bishopric of Durham.
The Blickling Homilies. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1960.
10th Century. An anonymous collections of Anglo-Saxon homilies and sermons written in Old English.
A Wulfstan Manuscript Containing Institutes, Laws and Homilies. British Museum Cotton Nero A.I. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1971.
11th Century. Collection of ecclesiastical institutes, laws and homilies, partly in Anglo-Saxon and partly in Latin. Includes a copy of the Laws of Cnut.

Manuscript Facsimiles: Religious Texts

Reference & Instruction Archivist

Psalters

Biblical Texts

Book of Hours

Other Books

Reference & Instruction Archivist