Folio Archives 447: Winchester Psalter - LIMITED EDITION 2015
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The Winchester Psalter, Miniature Cycle, Cotton MS Nero C.iv. - LIMITED EDITION 2015
A masterpiece of medieval manuscript illumination, the Winchester Psalter comes from the extensive collection of Sir Robert Cotton that was used to found the British Library. Produced at some time in the 12th. Century the manuscript depicts scenes from the Old Testament, the lives of Christ and Mary, and other events in the New Testament. It has been described as the pinnacle of Romanesque manuscript illumination. It is essentially a visual guide showing the path to salvation with examples of good and evil, rewards and punishments.
The origins of the manuscript are unknown, but the contents show a connection with Winchester Cathedral as well as Cluny Abbey in France. The original patron may have been Henry of Blois, the grandson of William the Conqueror, and this may have been his personal psalter. It is truly a magnificent work.
Housed in the dark green Solander case are two volumes – a facsimile that is as exact as possible reproduction of the original, and a much smaller commentary volume.
FACSIMILE
The facsimile is printed on Furisio paper which replicates as much as possible the original vellum. The reprographics are by Dot Graduations in Wickford, Essex. The page tops are gilded and the volume is bound in red Indian goatskin blocked with a design by Joe McLaren in gold and black. The Freelife Merida endleaves by Gorenjski, Slovenia, are a dark grey/green and the book has 80 pages. It measures 32.7x23.5cm. There is a colophon at the back of the book indicating that my copy is number 272 of 980 copies. All images are on the recto page and all verso pages are blank.
COMMENTARY VOLUME
The 91 page commentary volume by Prof. Kristine Edmonson Hanley is bound in dark green buckram that is title blocked on the front in gilt on a dark brown label and gilt title blocked on the spine. There is a 15 page introduction, then every page of the facsimile is described and explained. It measures 24x16.2cm. and is unillustrated.
SOLANDER CASE
The Solander case is made from grey/green buckram and is lined with Merida paper. There is a laid in heavy card divider between the two books in the case. On the front is an inset colour illustration taken from the facsimile and gilt titling. On the edge the gilt titling is on a dark brown label. The case measures
35.2x25.2x5.4cm.
There were 980 hand numbered copies of this edition sold with another 20 copies hors de commerce. The original cost was £345.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
A masterpiece of medieval manuscript illumination, the Winchester Psalter comes from the extensive collection of Sir Robert Cotton that was used to found the British Library. Produced at some time in the 12th. Century the manuscript depicts scenes from the Old Testament, the lives of Christ and Mary, and other events in the New Testament. It has been described as the pinnacle of Romanesque manuscript illumination. It is essentially a visual guide showing the path to salvation with examples of good and evil, rewards and punishments.
The origins of the manuscript are unknown, but the contents show a connection with Winchester Cathedral as well as Cluny Abbey in France. The original patron may have been Henry of Blois, the grandson of William the Conqueror, and this may have been his personal psalter. It is truly a magnificent work.
Housed in the dark green Solander case are two volumes – a facsimile that is as exact as possible reproduction of the original, and a much smaller commentary volume.
FACSIMILE
The facsimile is printed on Furisio paper which replicates as much as possible the original vellum. The reprographics are by Dot Graduations in Wickford, Essex. The page tops are gilded and the volume is bound in red Indian goatskin blocked with a design by Joe McLaren in gold and black. The Freelife Merida endleaves by Gorenjski, Slovenia, are a dark grey/green and the book has 80 pages. It measures 32.7x23.5cm. There is a colophon at the back of the book indicating that my copy is number 272 of 980 copies. All images are on the recto page and all verso pages are blank.
COMMENTARY VOLUME
The 91 page commentary volume by Prof. Kristine Edmonson Hanley is bound in dark green buckram that is title blocked on the front in gilt on a dark brown label and gilt title blocked on the spine. There is a 15 page introduction, then every page of the facsimile is described and explained. It measures 24x16.2cm. and is unillustrated.
SOLANDER CASE
The Solander case is made from grey/green buckram and is lined with Merida paper. There is a laid in heavy card divider between the two books in the case. On the front is an inset colour illustration taken from the facsimile and gilt titling. On the edge the gilt titling is on a dark brown label. The case measures
35.2x25.2x5.4cm.
There were 980 hand numbered copies of this edition sold with another 20 copies hors de commerce. The original cost was £345.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
