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Manuscripts and Rare Books

The Walters Art Museum’s collection of rare books and manuscripts chronicles the art of the book over more than 2,000 years from ancient to modern times through almost a thousand illuminated manuscripts, over 1,300 of the first printed books (ca. 1455–1500), and an important collection of nearly 2,000 rare post-1500 tomes. The manuscripts collection features works from across the globe, including 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. The printed book collection includes important first printed editions of ancient texts by great thinkers such as Aristotle and Euclid, a diary written by Napoleon, and an intricate binding crafted by Tiffany.

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 Letter from Catherine the Great to Frederick William III

Letter from Catherine the Great to Frederick William III

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Image for Apocalypse with Patristic Commentary

Apocalypse with Patristic Commentary

ca. 1800
W.917
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Image for Collection of Poems (Divan)

Collection of Poems (Divan)

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Image for Phra Malai and Other Buddhist Texts

Phra Malai and Other Buddhist Texts

Thai Artist
1791 (early Bangkok)
W.933
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Image for Collection of Poems (Divan)

Collection of Poems (Divan)

1210 AH/AD 1796 (Fatimid)
W.636
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Image for Qur'an

Qur'an

Islamic Artist
1800-1900
W.576
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Image for Chapter Fifty-Three of the Book of Isaiah

Chapter Fifty-Three of the Book of Isaiah

19th century
W.842
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Image for Anthology of Persian Poetry

Anthology of Persian Poetry

Iranian Artist
early 13th century AH/AD 19th century (Qajar)
W.655
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Image for Abridgment of the Book of Kings (Shahnama)

Abridgment of the Book of Kings (Shahnama)

13th century AH/AD 19th century
W.597
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Image for Single Leaf of Elephant Combat

Single Leaf of Elephant Combat

Indian Artist
13th century AH/AD 19th century (Mughal)
W.715
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Image for Qur'an

Qur'an

Iranian Artist
13th century AH/AD 19th century (Qajar)
W.575
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Image for Qur'an Board

Qur'an Board

African Artist
19th century
61.347
On view
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Image for Divination Manuscript

Divination Manuscript

Indian Artist
19th century
W.921
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Image for Qur'an

Qur'an

Baksh Scribe
19th century
W.572
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Image for Collection of Poems (Divan)

Collection of Poems (Divan)

13th century AH/AD 19th century (Fatimid)
W.637
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Image for Ottoman Diploma in Calligraphy

Ottoman Diploma in Calligraphy

1219 AH/AD 1804-1805 (Ottoman)
W.674
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Image for Qur'an

Qur'an

Iranian Artist
1230 AH/AD 1814-1815 (?)
W.567
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Image for Treatise on Elephants

Treatise on Elephants

Thai Artist
1824 (Rattanakosin)
W.893
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Image for Single Leaf of a Portrait of the Emperor Jahangir

Single Leaf of a Portrait of the Emperor Jahangir

Indian Artist
13th century AH/AD 1825-1875 (Mughal)
W.705
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Image for Emblematical Figures, Representations and Etc. to Please the Eye

Emblematical Figures, Representations and Etc. to Please the Eye

1826-1827
37.2518
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Image for Livre d'heures d'après les manuscrits de la Bibliothèque royale [Color facsimile]

Livre d'heures d'après les manuscrits de la Bibliothèque royale [Color facsimile]

Engelmann and Graf Publisher
1846
92.124
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Image for The Lights of Canopus

The Lights of Canopus

1264 AH/AD 1847 (Qajar)
W.599
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Image for Single Leaf of an Outdoor Scene in the Safavid Style

Single Leaf of an Outdoor Scene in the Safavid Style

Iranian (?) Artist
late 13th century AH/AD 19th century (Safavid)
W.812
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Image for Qur'an

Qur'an

1269 AH/AD 1853 (Ottoman)
W.743
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Image for Book on Horses

Book on Horses

1271 AH/AD 1854-1855 (Ottoman)
W.661
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Image for Autograph Letter from Sybby Grant to Her Enslaver, John Hanson Thomas

Autograph Letter from Sybby Grant to Her Enslaver, John Hanson Thomas

1861
15.34.1
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Image for In "Londres et les Anglais illustrés par Gavarni"

In "Londres et les Anglais illustrés par Gavarni"

Henry Vizetelly (British, 1820-1894) Engraver (Printmaker)
1862
92.664
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Image for Voyages de Gulliver par Swift, traduction de L'Abbé-Desfontaine Revue, corrigée et précedée d'une introduction par M. Jules Janin. Illustrations de Gavarni

Voyages de Gulliver par Swift, traduction de L'Abbé-Desfontaine Revue, corrigée et précedée d'une introduction par M. Jules Janin. Illustrations de Gavarni

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Image for Qur'an

Qur'an

1282 AH/AD 1865-1866 (Ottoman)
W.577
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Image for A Catalogue of Blue and White Nankin Porcelain Forming the Collection of Sir Henry Thompson

A Catalogue of Blue and White Nankin Porcelain Forming the Collection of Sir Henry Thompson

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Image for Livre de Prières. Tissé d'après les enluminures des manuscrits du XIVe au XVIe siècle

Livre de Prières. Tissé d'après les enluminures des manuscrits du XIVe au XVIe siècle

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Image for Modern Bookbinding Practically Considered

Modern Bookbinding Practically Considered

1889
92.1263 ()
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