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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 Gospels

Gospels

1455 (Renaissance)
W.543
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Image for Legenda San Catherinae de Senis

Legenda San Catherinae de Senis

ca. 1470 (Renaissance)
W.350
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Image for Eclogues, Georgics and Aeneid

Eclogues, Georgics and Aeneid

ca. 1470 (Renaissance)
W.400
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

French Artist
ca. 1470 (Medieval-Renaissance)
W.249
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Image for Boccaccio's "De Casibus Virorum Illustrium"

Boccaccio's "De Casibus Virorum Illustrium"

Flemish Artist
ca. 1470
W.314
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Image for La Fleur des Histoires

La Fleur des Histoires

Belgian Artist
ca. 1470-1480
W.305
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Image for Boccaccio's "Casibus Virorum Illustrium"

Boccaccio's "Casibus Virorum Illustrium"

French Artist
ca. 1470
W.315
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
ca. 1470-1480
W.204
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
ca. 1470
W.196
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Image for Les Chroniques d'Angleterre, Volume IV

Les Chroniques d'Angleterre, Volume IV

Flemish Artist
ca. 1470-1480
W.201
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

Flemish Artist
ca. 1470
W.208
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

French Artist
ca. 1470
W.206
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Image for De Situ Orbis

De Situ Orbis

ca. 1470 (early Renaissance)
W.394
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Image for St. Jerome, Vita et Transitus

St. Jerome, Vita et Transitus

French Artist
1460
W.304
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Image for Book of Hours with Calendar

Book of Hours with Calendar

French Artist
1460
W.284
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Image for Book of Hours in Dutch

Book of Hours in Dutch

2nd half 15th century
W.192
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Image for Breviary

Breviary

Flemish Artist
1460-1470
W.298
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Image for Collection of Poems (masnavi)

Collection of Poems (masnavi)

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Image for Le Armi Spirituale

Le Armi Spirituale

1466 (early Renaissance)
W.342
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

ca. 1480 (early Renaissance)
W.324
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Image for Book of Hours

Book of Hours

ca. 1480 (early Renaissance)
W.325
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Image for I Trionfi

I Trionfi

ca. 1480 (Renaissance)
W.755
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Image for Moralia in Job

Moralia in Job

ca. 1480 (Renaissance)
W.338
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Image for Opera Philosophica

Opera Philosophica

ca. 1480 (Renaissance)
W.364
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Image for Hours of Duke Adolph of Cleves

Hours of Duke Adolph of Cleves

Flemish Artist
ca. 1480-90
W.439
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Image for Breviary

Breviary

ca. 1480 (Renaissance)
W.333
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Image for The Hours of Ogier Bénigne

The Hours of Ogier Bénigne

French Artist
ca. 1480
W.291
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Image for Conjuratio malignorum spirituum in corporibus hominum existium

Conjuratio malignorum spirituum in corporibus hominum existium

1470-1480 (early Renaissance)
W.352
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Image for Chroniques des Rois de France

Chroniques des Rois de France

French Artist
late 15th century
W.306
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