Wallingford bookshop sells 550-year-old manuscript to American university

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 17:32 · Archive

A Wallingford bookshop has sold a 550-year-old medieval Book of Hours prayer manuscript to an American university for £39,500. The manuscript was produced in Lyon around 1475 and features illuminations—richly decorated miniature paintings—created by three notable artists who worked in the city.

Just 8cm tall, the book served as a personal prayer book and shows signs of extensive use. The illuminations have been rubbed away in places by the original owner whilst praying, particularly in the section called The Office Of The Dead, which contains prayers said before a funeral.

Sienna Wells, a medieval manuscript specialist at the rare book dealers based in Howbery Park, Wallingford, made the sale. Ms Wells described the find as 'incredibly rare' and noted the intimate nature of the object. She said: 'It is so moving to see someone's physical evidence of grief over five hundred years later.' The American university purchasing the manuscript is beginning to build its own teaching collection of medieval manuscripts.

How it is being reported

• Bookshop sells 550-year-old manuscript to American university for £39kThe medieval Book of Hours prayer book manuscript is incredibly rare and sold to an American university for £39,500.Oxfordshire Guardian · 13 Nov, 17:00
• Bookshop sells 550-year-old manuscript to American university for £39kThe medieval Book of Hours prayer book manuscript is incredibly rare and sold to an American university for £39,500.Oxford Mail · 13 Nov, 17:00

In this story: Wallingford · Lyon · Sienna Wells · Howbery Park

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