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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 Breviary of St. Bénigne

Breviary of St. Bénigne

French Artist
late 13th century
W.109
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

French Artist
late 13th century
W.39
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Image for Psalter-Hours of Brother Guimier

Psalter-Hours of Brother Guimier

Flemish Artist
4th quarter 13th century
W.47
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
late 13th century
W.86
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
ca. 1300-1310 (Medieval)
W.37
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

English Artist
ca. 1300 (Gothic)
W.102
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Image for The Ghistelles Calendar

The Ghistelles Calendar

Flemish Artist
ca. 1301
W.851
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Image for The Beaupré Antiphonary (Volume I)

The Beaupré Antiphonary (Volume I)

Flemish Artist
1290 (Medieval)
W.759
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Image for The Beaupré Antiphonary, vol. 2

The Beaupré Antiphonary, vol. 2

Flemish Artist
1290 (Medieval)
W.760
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Image for Antiphonary

Antiphonary

Flemish Artist
1290
W.762
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Image for The Beaupré Antiphonary (Volume III)

The Beaupré Antiphonary (Volume III)

Flemish Artist
1290
W.761
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Image for Incomplete Book of Hours

Incomplete Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
ca. 1310-1320 (Gothic)
W.87
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
early 14th century
W.90
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Image for Ethiopian Gospels

Ethiopian Gospels

early 14th century
W.836
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
early 14th century (Gothic)
W.85
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Image for Two Leaves from an Antiphonary

Two Leaves from an Antiphonary

early 14th century
W.754
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Image for Fragments of a Sluzhebnik (Euchologion)

Fragments of a Sluzhebnik (Euchologion)

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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

English Artist
1300-1400 (Medieval)
W.105
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Image for Homilary

Homilary

German Artist
1st half 14th century
W.148
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Image for Les livres du gouvernement des roys et des princes

Les livres du gouvernement des roys et des princes

1st third 14th century
W.144
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Image for Qur'an

Qur'an

Iranian Artist
8th century AH/AD 14th
W.558
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Image for Miniature with the Crucifixion

Miniature with the Crucifixion

Venetian Artist
14th century
W.779
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
1st quarter 14th century (Gothic)
W.88
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Image for Qur'an

Qur'an

Iranian Artist
8th century AH/AD 14th century
W.560
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
1st quarter 14th century
W.104
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Image for Psalter-Hours

Psalter-Hours

Flemish Artist
ca. 1315-25 (Gothic)
W.82
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Image for Psalter

Psalter

Flemish Artist
ca. 1310-1320 (Gothic)
W.110
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
1320-1330 (Gothic)
W.95
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Image for Qur'an

Qur'an

723 AH/AD 1323
W.559
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Image for Le roman de la rose

Le roman de la rose

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Image for Four Leaves from a Shahnama

Four Leaves from a Shahnama

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Image for Initial D with Pentecost

Initial D with Pentecost

2nd half 14th century (Medieval)
W.752.B
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