Worlds of Wisdom

Up Close - Travel Around the World with Ziereis Facsimiles

Libraries, exhibitions and congresses all over the world - come with us on our travels!
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Facsimile Basics

The Answers to the Three Most Important Questions
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Genres Explained: from Bestiaries to Books of Hours

What are Beatus manuscripts and how are books of hours structured? We will explain it to you!
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Styles Explained: from Late Antique to Renaissance

What is typically Ottonian, Romanesque, or Gothic? Find out here!
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A Sprint through History: from the 5th to the 16th centuries

What happened in the world during the 12th century, for example, and what manuscripts did it produce? You can read up on it here!
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The Latest Posts

Here you will always find the 3 most recent articles from our Worlds of Wisdom

  1. Library of Congress

    Come with us to the incredible Library of Congress, which has the most comprehensive collections in the world, including a unique and pristine copy of the Gutenberg Bible. See why the Jefferson Building is one of the gems of Washington D.C.

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  2. Psalters

    Before the emergence of the book of hours, Psalters were the most popular type of private devotional manuscript and often doubled as primers for their patrons. Dive into the Psalms of King David and examine gorgeous miniature cycles covering important Biblical narratives.

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  3. You Should Know These 15 Things

    New or second hand? Subscription or prepayment? What is a complete facsimile and what kinds of paper, bindings, and print qualities are there? Here's everything you need to know about facsimiles before buying.

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Up Close! - Travel with us

Come with us to libraries, exhibitions, and congresses all over the world – To all Posts

  1. International Medieval Congress Leeds 2019

    Every year, the largest medieval congress in Europe draws 3,000 scholars from all over the world to Leeds in West Yorkshire. Join us at the IMC Leeds 2019, where we were invited to lecture on the reproduction of medieval manuscripts.

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  2. Frankfurt Book Fair 2019

    In 2019, we returned to the Frankfurt Book Fair, which attracts hundreds of thousands of book lovers and professionals in the publishing industry from around the world. Follow us in Frankfurt as we rub elbows with colleagues and preview an exciting new facsimile edition.

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  3. Frankfurt Book Fair 2018

    Over 285,000 visitors attended the 2018 Frankfurt Book Fair including us, the Ziereis brothers. Come check out our completely redesigned booth, which was lucky enough to be located next to an exhibitor with a replica of the original Gutenberg printing press!

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Of Art and History

Which orders existed in the Middle Ages? Which rulers, which legends? And how were they represented in book illumination? – To all Posts

    Facsimiles? - the Answers to the Three Most Important Questions

    What is a facsimile, what is it used for, and what do you need to know before buying?

      Genres Explained: from Bestiaries to Books of Hours

      What are Beatus manuscripts and how are books of hours structured? We will explain it to you! – To all Posts

      1. Astronomy / Astrology

        Do the constellations capture your imagination the way they did the imaginations of medieval star-gazers? These beautiful manuscripts were commissioned by wealthy patrons looking to the stars for advice on daily life and predictions for the future.

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      2. Beatus Manuscripts

        The Spanish monk Beatus of Liébana wrote one of the most influential commentaries on the Book of Revelation that inspired its own genre of illuminated Apocalypse manuscripts. Explore the unique aesthetics and incredible color palette of these influential works.

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      3. Bestiaries

        Are you an animal-lover? Can’t get enough nature documentaries? The popularity of these beautiful manuscripts filled with allegorical creatures both real and imagined gives insight into the outlook of medieval Europeans, who apparently would have also loved cat videos.

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      4. Bibles

        You would assume that Bibles were the most commonly produced medieval manuscript, right? Wrong. The sheer size of the text made complete Bibles prohibitively expensive and thus relatively few were produced, but many of those that were are truly spectacular!

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      5. Botany / Herb Books

        Are you interested in botany and herbal pharmacology? These manuscripts represent a bridge between the wisdom of antiquity and modern medicine for the history of science and include some of the only ancient manuscripts to survive today.

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      6. Chronicles

        Take a deep dive into history with a medieval chronicler, trace the history of the world or focus on the history of a dynasty, city, or knightly order. While flipping through the pages of these historic texts, you will find a wealth of details from daily life in the Middle Ages.

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      Styles Explained: from Late Antique to Renaissance

      What is typically Ottonian, Romanesque, or Gothic? Find out here! – To all Posts

      1. Ottonian

        The Ottonian dynasty sought to assert itself as the heirs to the Western Roman Empire and the peers of the Byzantines in the East. Come see how they expressed their imperial claims with purple, gold, and silver in monumental illumination protected by elaborate covers.

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      2. Byzantine

        How can an artistic style remain remarkably homogeneous for nearly a millennium? We call them Byzantines today, but they thought of themselves as Romans and the workshops of Constantinople and other imperial cities preserved the refined the traditions of ancient art.

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      3. Romanesque

        The first international European artistic movement was vigorous, innovative, and yet coherent, seamlessly blending classical, Byzantine, Germanic, and Insular artistic influences while making use of striking primary colors. Can you see the roots of the Gothic style?

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      4. Gothic

        Gothic illumination is some of the most spectacular and iconic imagery of medieval art and first emerged in Northern France during the second half of the 12th century before spreading across Europe. Witness the evolving artistry and realism of the Gothic style.

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      5. Renaissance

        What does the word “Renaissance” bring to mind for you? Art, science, and culture of course! It was a "rebirth" and renewal of fascination in the knowledge of antiquity, and yielded the final and most spectacular chapter in the history of European book art.

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      6. Pre-Columbian

        Have you ever wondered what life was like in the America’s before the arrival of Europeans? The manuscripts of the Aztecs, Mayas, Incas, and other peoples are counted among the rarest and most coveted historical artifacts in the world.

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      A Sprint through History: from the 5th to the 16th centuries

      What happened in the world during the 12th century, for example, and what manuscripts did it produce? You can read up on it here! – To all Posts

      1. 8th Century

        Islam rises from the East like an irresistible tide and the Vikings begin to raid and pillage from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, the Byzantines have a crisis of faith in the form of the Iconoclasm. By the way, have you heard of a guy named Charlemagne?

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      2. 9th Century

        What was the Carolingian Renaissance and how did the Byzantines learn to contain the threat of marauding Arab armies? Read how art and culture was able to thrive across Western Europe despite the fact that the Vikings’ raids were turning into full-blown invasions.

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      3. 10th Century

        Who were the Magyars and Rus Vikings and how did they contribute to the evolution of medieval Europe? Read about a chaotic century of warfare, art, and incredible personalities as the map of Europe changes, fortunes rise and fall, and the Early Middle Ages come to an end.

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      4. 11th Century

        The beginning of the High Middle Ages and the emergence of Romanesque art: witness the Byzantines at their zenith, the Normans on the rise, and the outbreak of the Crusades. Come and explore the age of chivalry and the troubadour!

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      5. 12th Century

        Are you ready for an age of epic events and flourishing art? The Crusades and Reconquista rage at either end of the Mediterranean Sea while Gothic art emerges in Northern France. It is the age of Frederick Barbarossa and Henry the Lion, Saladin and Richard the Lionheart.

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      6. 13th Century

        Despite ongoing religious wars and the threat of Mongol invasion from the East, this is a time of great personalities, innovations, and change. Meet enlightened rulers like Emperor Frederick II and King Louis the Saint, who enriched Europe with their wisdom and patronage.

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