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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 Psalter

Psalter

German Artist
1st half 13th century (Medieval)
W.23
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Image for Four Leaves from the Arabic Version of Dioscorides' De materia medica

Four Leaves from the Arabic Version of Dioscorides' De materia medica

7th century AH/AD 13th century
W.750
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Image for Prajnaparamita Manuscript

Prajnaparamita Manuscript

Tibetan Artist
13th century
W.856
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Image for Single Leaf from the Arabic Version of Dioscorides' De materia medica

Single Leaf from the Arabic Version of Dioscorides' De materia medica

Rajab 621 AH/AD 1224
W.675
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Image for Single Leaf from a Gradual with the Assumption of the Virgin

Single Leaf from a Gradual with the Assumption of the Virgin

German Artist
mid 13th century
W.756
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Image for Touke Psalter

Touke Psalter

Flemish (?) Artist
ca. 1250-1260 (Gothic)
W.36
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Image for Leaf from a Pocket Bible

Leaf from a Pocket Bible

ca. 1250
2012.22.1
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

French Artist
ca. 1250-1275 (Medieval)
W.40
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Image for Carrow Psalter

Carrow Psalter

English Artist
ca. 1250 (Medieval)
W.34
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Image for Bible Pictures by William de Brailes

Bible Pictures by William de Brailes

ca. 1250 (Medieval)
W.106
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Image for Pocket-Sized Bible

Pocket-Sized Bible

English Artist
ca. 1260; miniature additions ca. 1290-1300 (Gothic)
W.51
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Image for East Anglian Psalter

East Anglian Psalter

English Artist
ca. 1300
W.79
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Image for Psalter of St. Mary of Strasbourg

Psalter of St. Mary of Strasbourg

German Artist
2nd half 13th century
W.69
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Image for Psalter of Jernoul de Camphaing

Psalter of Jernoul de Camphaing

French Artist
3rd quarter 13th century
W.42
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Image for Psalter with Added Litanies

Psalter with Added Litanies

Flemish Artist
3rd quarter 13th century
W.43
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Image for Psalter with Cistercian Ordinary for Ferial Office

Psalter with Cistercian Ordinary for Ferial Office

Flemish Artist
ca. 1250-1275
W.114
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Image for Psalter for Cistercian Female Supplicant

Psalter for Cistercian Female Supplicant

Flemish Artist
3rd quarter 13th century
W.44
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Image for Psalter

Psalter

Flemish Artist
3rd quarter 13th century
W.116
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Image for Ramboux Psalter

Ramboux Psalter

Flemish Artist
ca. 1265-1275 (Gothic)
W.68
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Image for Psalter, with Office of the Dead and Litany

Psalter, with Office of the Dead and Litany

Flemish Artist
ca. 1270-1280 (Gothic)
W.35
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Image for Text page

Text page

1262 (Medieval)
W.539.82V
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Image for T'oros Roslin Gospels

T'oros Roslin Gospels

1262 (Medieval)
W.539
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Image for Marginal Psalter

Marginal Psalter

Byzantine Artist
ca. 1300, with 16th century additions
W.733
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Image for Gratian's Decretum

Gratian's Decretum

Flemish Artist
ca. 1280-1290 (Gothic)
W.133
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Image for Psalter from a Psalter-Hours

Psalter from a Psalter-Hours

Flemish Artist
4th quarter 13th century
W.113
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Image for Decretum

Decretum

French Artist
late 13th century (Gothic)
W.135
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Image for Rule of the Knights Templar

Rule of the Knights Templar

Flemish Artist
4th quarter 13th century
W.132
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Image for William of Tyre's "Histoire d'Outre Mer"

William of Tyre's "Histoire d'Outre Mer"

4th quarter 13th century
W.137
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Image for Gospels

Gospels

late 13th century
W.526
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Image for Cologne Psalter-Hours

Cologne Psalter-Hours

German Artist
late 13th century (Medieval)
W.41
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Image for Gospels with Acts of the Apostles and Epistles

Gospels with Acts of the Apostles and Epistles

ca. 1300 (late Byzantine)
W.525
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