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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 Qur'an

Qur'an

Iranian Artist
6th century AH/AD 12th century
W.557
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Image for Rochester New Testament

Rochester New Testament

English Artist
ca. 1130 (Medieval)
W.18
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Image for Hymnal with Commentary

Hymnal with Commentary

ca. 1130-1150 (Medieval)
W.32
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Image for Synonyms of Isidore of Seville

Synonyms of Isidore of Seville

mid 12th century (Romanesque)
W.13
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Image for Trebizond Gospels

Trebizond Gospels

Byzantine Artist
mid 12th century
W.531
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Image for Three Treatises by Honorius Augustodunensis

Three Treatises by Honorius Augustodunensis

2nd half 12th century (Medieval)
W.29
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Image for Gloss on The lamentations of Jeremiah

Gloss on The lamentations of Jeremiah

2nd half 12th century (Medieval)
W.30
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Image for Sermones CLXXV

Sermones CLXXV

French Artist
1150-1175 (Medieval)
W.19
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Image for Cosmography

Cosmography

English Artist
late 12th century
W.73
On view
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Image for Helmarshausen Psalter

Helmarshausen Psalter

German Artist
2nd half 12th century (Medieval)
W.10
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Image for Sententiarum libri IV

Sententiarum libri IV

French Artist
ca. 1180
W.809
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Image for Commentarii in Somnium Scipionis

Commentarii in Somnium Scipionis

French Artist
ca. 1175-1200 (Medieval)
W.22
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Image for Binding from Commentarii in Somnium Scipionis

Binding from Commentarii in Somnium Scipionis

French Artist
ca. 1175-1200 (Medieval)
W.22.binding
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Image for Decretum

Decretum

ca. 1180 (Medieval)
W.777
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Image for St. Francis Missal

St. Francis Missal

Venetian Artist
1172-1228 (Medieval)
W.75
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Image for Premonstratensian Psalter

Premonstratensian Psalter

German Artist
late 12th-early 13th century (Medieval)
W.25
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Image for Saints' Lives

Saints' Lives

late 12th-early 13th century (Romanesque)
W.71
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Image for Melk missal

Melk missal

late 12th-early 13th century (Medieval)
W.33
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Image for Gospels

Gospels

Venetian Artist
late 12th-early 13th century (Medieval)
W.31
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Image for Glossed Gospels

Glossed Gospels

English Artist
late 12th century-early 13th century
W.15
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Image for Juvenal's Satires

Juvenal's Satires

4th quarter 12th century (Medieval)
W.20
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Image for Collection of Texts by Solinus, Orosius, Pseudo-Alexander, Justinus, and Walter of Châtillon

Collection of Texts by Solinus, Orosius, Pseudo-Alexander, Justinus, and Walter of Châtillon

French Artist
4th quarter 12th century
W.21
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Image for Claricia Psalter

Claricia Psalter

German Artist
late 12th-early 13th century (Medieval)
W.26
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Image for Psalter

Psalter

German Artist
1st half 13th century
W.70
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Image for Gospels

Gospels

Armenian Artist
1193
W.538
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Image for Henry of Huntingdon's Historia Anglorum

Henry of Huntingdon's Historia Anglorum

1st half 13th century (Gothic)
W.793
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Image for Peter of Poitiers' Historical genealogy of Christ

Peter of Poitiers' Historical genealogy of Christ

early 13th century (Gothic)
W.796
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Image for Fragmentary Psalter

Fragmentary Psalter

German Artist
1200-1300 (Gothic)
W.16
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Image for Aesopus moralisatus

Aesopus moralisatus

Aesop Author
Printed book: 1495; Parchment binding: ca. 1200
91.12
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Image for Speculum Virginum

Speculum Virginum

1st quarter 13th century (Gothic)
W.72
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Image for Historia de Preliis Alexandri Magni

Historia de Preliis Alexandri Magni

Italian (?) Artist
13th century (Gothic)
W.76
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Image for Psalter

Psalter

French Artist
1200-1225 (Medieval)
W.24
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