Antique Ethiopian Coptic Christian Manuscript Hand Written Vellum Bible Codex 55

Description

This is a very rare antique Ethiopian Coptic Christian handwritten Bible Manuscript which is a Psalter
. This large Codex measures 10.30 inches long by 7.71 inches wide and is 2.73 inches thick
.
This Coptic Bible has been researched by Steve Delamarter and Melaku Terefe - please see below for more information.
This Bible has two hand carved wooden covers on the front and back through which very fine holes are drilled and strung with string which goes through all the pages to make a very simple yet effective binding. The wooden covers are fitted with a vintage, hand sewn cloth book cover to keep this bible safe during travel which was made just for this bible. This cloth cover features a wrap around flap which is a little worn which secures the cover closed and also protects the pages of the book. The pages are made of goat skin called vellum that has an amazing parchment like texture. The writting is in black and red paint or ink (red usually being reserved for the names of God, Saints and the Holy Family) made from plant juices and is in Ethiopic (Ge'ez) a language no longer used today except by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for religious purposes.
Ge'ez which is the country's earliest language and which has been referred to as the 'Latin of Ethiopia' and is used today only in the liturgy of the Ethiopian Church. Please see 'Ethiopian Magic Scrolls' by Jacques Mercier and 'The coinage of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somalia' by Dennis Gill for more information. Very sturdy and in great although slight worn condition from past use by previous owners.
T
his Coptic Bible has been researched by Steve Delamarter and Melaku Terefe and the following information has been recorded for this specimen. Images of this Bible have also been donated to the Ethiopic Manuscript Imaging Project so as to be available for scholarly study.
Marwick Codex 55 - Psalter
Parchment, 260 x 197 x 65 mm, protection sheet + 13 quires, i + 129 folios, Ge‘ez, 20th
century.
Miniatures:
1. David Playing the Harp. Crude Drawing.
This bible would be an excellent addition to any Ethiopian Christian collection.
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