Facsimiles with Luxury Bindings

Although not many, some medieval manuscripts were nevertheless furnished with a splendid cover, often with gems or ivory. Here you will find a selection of facsimiles with the most beautiful and most elaborate bindings.

Codex Aureus of Echternach

Made on behalf of Theophanus, adorned with a breathtakingly splendor cover, written entirely in gold: arguably the most magnificent and beautiful manuscript ever

Echternach Abbey (Luxembourg) — 1020–1050

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Lorsch Gospels

Held in the hands of Emperor Charlemagne, adorned with a masterful ivory cover: a world famous highlight of Carolingian book art

Aachen (Germany) — ca. 810

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Sacramentary of Henry II

Golden book decoration for the king: a political statement and an ivory-decorated masterpiece of Ottonian book painting from the St. Emmeram monastery

Benedictine Abbey of St. Emmeram, Regensburg (Germany) — 1007–1014

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Lindisfarne Gospels

Book art for eternity adorned with glowing carpet pages: the birth of Insular illumination and a style-defining masterpiece for centuries

Lindisfarne Abbey, Holy Island (United Kingdom) — ca. 700

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Coronation Gospels of the Holy Roman Empire

Part of the Imperial Insignia, written in gold ink on purple parchment: each German emperor swore his oath with his hand on this book

Court School of Charlemagne, Aachen (Germany) — Shortly before 800

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Speyer Pericopes

A cover of precious stones, miniatures made of gold: an extraordinarily magnificent masterpiece for Speyer Cathedral

Speyer or Trier (Germany) — Around 1220

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Salzburg Pericopes

Featuring 70 golden miniatures and enrobed with 12 masterful ivory plates: a magnificent treasure of Ottonian book illumination in every respect

Monastery of St. Peter, Salzburg (Austria) — Around 1020

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Bamberg Psalter

Created 1,500 years ago in Byzantium: the largest and most influential work of healing and botany in history

Bamberg or Regensburg (Germany) — 1220/1230

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Prayer Book of Lorenzo de' Medici

Italian Renaissance art in filigree perfection: the wedding gift of Lorenzo the Magnificent to his eldest daughter Lucrezia

Florence (Italy) — 1485

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Farnese Hours

Painted by Giulio Clovio, one of the best miniaturists of all time: a unique and perfect fusion of elements from the Renaissance and Mannerism

Rome (Italy) — 1537–1546

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Prayer Book of Elector Maximilian I of Bavaria

Created in the court workshop of Emperor Rudolf II: realism and amazing details in enchanting depictions of animals and plants in a treasure of late book illumination

Prague (Czech Republic) — 16th century

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Torriani Book of Hours

For the Italian ancestors of the princes of Thurn and Taxis: a book treasure in a small format with a fascinating decorative cover

Milan (Italy) — 1490–1495

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