Facsimiles of Medieval Manuscripts and Incunabula

Rome, Vatican Apostolic Library, Ms. Pal. Graec. 431

The Joshua Roll is the only illuminated manuscript in scroll form to survive from the Middle Byzantine period, dating to the 10th century. It is over 10 meters in length but is likely incomplete. It focuses on the military success of Joshua, using text from the Old Testament Book of Joshua (Chapters II-IX). It is painted in grisaille and was likely produced in Constantinople.

High Quality Color Facsimile with Multilingual Commentary

Clementinum, National Library of Czech Republic, MS 23 C

The Velislai Biblia Picta is a picture bible, which reduces the text of the bible down to short captions which frame the 747 ink and color wash images. Velislav, notary of John I of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, is believed to have been the patron.

Black and White Facsimile

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, MS Theol. graec. 31

The Vienna Genesis, a purple codex, dates to the first half of the 6th century and is the oldest surviving illustrated biblical codex. There are twenty-four surviving folios, each with miniatures at the bottom of both recto and verso that directly relate to the text above them.

High Quality Color Facsimile

Rome, Vatican Library, MS. Vat. Gr. 1613

The Menologion of Basil II is an illuminated church calendar produced for the emperor Basil II (r. 976-1025) circa 1000. Originally contained in two volumes, only one remains. It contains over 430 miniature paintings. The majority of the painting illustrate key moments from the lives of the saints depicted, but a few depict contemporary ceremonial events connected with both Hagia Sophia and Constantinople.

High Quality Color Facsimile with Spanish Commentary

Florence, Bibliotheca Medicea Laurenziana, cod. Plut. I, 56

The Rabbula Gospels is a well-known Syriac Christian gospel book with some of the earliest developed Christian iconography in large miniatures. The manuscript takes its name from the signature of its scribe.

Color Partial Facsimile

Rossano, Biblioteca Capitolare 6 (Codex Purpureus Rossanensis)

The Rossano Gospels, a purple codex, date to the 6th century and are the earliest surviving illuminated manuscript of the New Testament. There are now 188 folios, among which is a prefatory cycle of miniatures illustrating scenes from the life of Christ. Special Collections has a partial black-and-white facsimile.

Black and White Partial Facsimile

Black and White and Some Color Facsimile with Russian Introduction

Moscow, State Historical Museum, MS. D.129

The Chludov Psalter is an illuminated marginal manuscript, likely made in Constantinople in the mid 9th century. It is unique in being one of three illuminated manuscripts to survive from the period of Iconoclasm. The Psalter contains 169 folios and follows the liturgy prescribed for Hagia Sophia, Constantinople. The marginal illuminations are polemical, particularly in the depictions of defeated iconoclasts.

High Quality Color Facsimile

Jerusalem, National and University Library

The Aleppo Codex was written in Tiberias in the 10th century C.E. It is organized in the tradition of the Sephardi biblical manuscripts where the Torah and Nevi’im are conventional, but the Ketuvim differs.

High Quality Color Facsimile

St. Petersburg, Russian National Library, Firkovich B. 19.A

The Leningrad Codex is the oldest complete manuscript of the Hebrew Bible in Hebrew and dates to 1008 C.E., according to its colophon. Like the Aleppo Codex, this manuscript follows the Tiberian mesorah.

Black and While Facsimile with English Introduction

Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, MS Supplementum graecum 247

Nikander was a 2nd century Greek poet. His Theriaca describes the nature of venomous animals and the wounds that they inflict. The Alexipharmaca focuses on poisons and their antidotes. His works continued to be consulted by medical doctors in the Middle Ages, as is demonstrated by this 10th century Byzantine illuminated manuscript. Produced in Constantinople, it reproduces Late Antique/Early Christian figural types and styles.

High Quality Color Facsimile with French Commentary

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Cod. F. 205 P. inf.

The Ambrosian Iliad is the only surviving illustrated copy of Homer from antiquity. The miniatures have been individually cut out, so the surviving portion of the manuscript does not contain the text column.

High Quality Color Facsimile with multilingual introduction

New York City, New York Public Library, MS MA 97

Black and White Facsimile with English Commentary

Black and White and Some Color Facsimile

Black and White Partial Facsimile with Russian Commentary

High Quality Color Facsimile with Multilingual Commentary

The Codex Vyssegradensis, or the Coronation Gospels of King Vratislaus, is a Gospel Book from the late 11th-century. The manuscript contains the earliest known representation of the Tree of Jesse.

Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, MS. gr. 139

The Paris Psalter is a Byzantine illuminated manuscript that contains 14 full-page miniatures and is considered a key work in the 10th century Macedonian Renaissance.

Black and White Facsimile with English Introduction

Copenhagen, Royal Library, Gl. Kongl. Saml. MS 6

High Quality Color and Black and White Facsimile with German Commentary