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Manuscripts and Rare Books

With more than 900 illuminated manuscripts, 1,250 of the first printed books (ca. 1455 - 1500), and an important collection of post-1500 deluxe editions, this extraordinary collection chronicles the art of the book over more than 1,000 years. The collection is from all over the world, and from ancient to modern times. It features deluxe Gospel books from Armenia, Ethiopia, Byzantium, and Ottonian Germany, French and Flemish books of hours, as well as masterpieces of Safavid, Mughal and Ottoman manuscript illumination. It also includes important first printed editions of ancient texts by great thinkers such as Aristotle and Euclid, diaries written by Napoleon and intricate bindings crafted by Tiffany. The early printed book collection highlights the experimental nature of the first attempts at printing. Some of these books have been illuminated by hand, and many are unique objects. 

Walters Ex Libris

Explore digitized manuscripts, bindings, and single leaves from the collection of the Walters Art Museum.

The Walters Ex Libris
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Image for Vier bücher von menschlicher proportion

Vier bücher von menschlicher proportion

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Image for Five Poems (Quintet)

Five Poems (Quintet)

934-935 AH/AD 1528-1529 (Safavid)
W.607
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Image for Champ fleury

Champ fleury

1529 (Renaissance)
92.667
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Image for Five Poems (Quintet)

Five Poems (Quintet)

935 AH/AD 1529 (Safavid)
W.622
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

1530 (Renaissance)
92.83
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Image for Prayer Book

Prayer Book

941 AH/AD 1534
W.579
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Image for Leaf from Miniature Manuscript Used as a Pendant: Portrait of Christ

Leaf from Miniature Manuscript Used as a Pendant: Portrait of Christ

ca. 1550 (High Renaissance)
W.444.26R
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Image for Leaf from Miniature Manuscript Used as a Pendant: Portrait of the Virgin

Leaf from Miniature Manuscript Used as a Pendant: Portrait of the Virgin

ca. 1550 (High Renaissance)
W.444.1V
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Image for Miniature Manuscript Used as a Pendant

Miniature Manuscript Used as a Pendant

ca. 1550 (High Renaissance)
W.444
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Image for Collection of Poems (divan)

Collection of Poems (divan)

946 AH/AD 1539 (Safavid)
W.631
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Image for Regole generali de architettura

Regole generali de architettura

1540 (Renaissance)
92.634
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Image for Icones historiarum Veteris Testamenti : ad viuum expressae, extrema´que diligentia emendatiores factae, Gallicis in expositione homoeoteleutis, ac versuum ordinibus (qui prius turbati, ac impares) suo numero restitutis.

Icones historiarum Veteris Testamenti : ad viuum expressae, extrema´que diligentia emendatiores factae, Gallicis in expositione homoeoteleutis, ac versuum ordinibus (qui prius turbati, ac impares) suo numero restitutis.

1547 (Renaissance)
92.239
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Image for Book of Emblems

Book of Emblems

1548 (Renaissance)
92.24
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Image for Single Leaf of a Mounted Figure Attacked by a Lion

Single Leaf of a Mounted Figure Attacked by a Lion

Iranian Artist
mid 10th century AH/AD 16th century (Safavid)
W.747
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Image for Single Leaf of a Man Spinning Cotton

Single Leaf of a Man Spinning Cotton

Iranian Artist
mid 10th century AH/AD 16th century (Safavid)
W.746
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Image for Anatomia Deudsch

Anatomia Deudsch

1551
92.105
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Image for Collection of Poems (divan)

Collection of Poems (divan)

958 AH/AD 1552 (Safavid)
W.629
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Image for Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus

Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus

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Image for Poem (masnavi)

Poem (masnavi)

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Image for Gloss on Commentary on the Qur'an

Gloss on Commentary on the Qur'an

966 AH/AD 1558 (Ottoman)
W.584
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Image for Collection of Poems (divan)

Collection of Poems (divan)

966 AH/AD 1559 (Safavid)
W.630
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Image for Commentary on an Abridgment of the Canon of Medicine

Commentary on an Abridgment of the Canon of Medicine

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Image for Book of Italian Costumes

Book of Italian Costumes

ca. 1588 (High Renaissance)
W.477
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Image for Five Poems (Quintet)

Five Poems (Quintet)

Manuscript: 971 AH/AD 1563; Some Miniatures: 13th century AH/AD 19th century (Safavid; Qajar)
W.608
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Image for Dogale of Zuane Badoer

Dogale of Zuane Badoer

ca. 1580 (Renaissance)
W.487
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Image for History of Nigaristan

History of Nigaristan

5 Shawwal 976 AH/AD 1569 (Safavid)
W.598
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Image for Poem (Masnavi)

Poem (Masnavi)

978 AH/AD 1570-1571 (Safavid)
W.656
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Image for Emblem Book

Emblem Book

Venetian Artist
1570 (High Renaissance)
W.476
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Image for Two Works of Sa`di: The Rose Garden (Gulistan) and The Orchard (Bustan)

Two Works of Sa`di: The Rose Garden (Gulistan) and The Orchard (Bustan)

980 AH/AD 1572 (Safavid)
W.619
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Image for Heraldry

Heraldry

Venetian Artist
1574
W.720
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