Volumes XXVIII and XXIX : The Codex Aureus

Early English Manuscripts in Facsimile Finding Aid Home

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v.XXVIII and XXIX    Other resources

Volumes XXVIII and XXIX : The Codex Aureus

Dating from around the middle of the eight-century, this Gospel Book has claims to be the most sumptuous manuscript to survive from the Anglo-Saxon period. Written in Uncial by at least five scribes, the text on every alternate page is in white or gold upon vellum stained or painted purple, a unique feature in early medieval Price Listope. On the white pages, silver and red are also used to present the text in contrasting colors. Much of the original magnificent decoration, the work of two artists, survives, including four whole decorated initial pages, Evangelist Tables, and many other features of ornament. Of particular importance are its perceptible connections with the earliest (and now largely lost) books brought to England by the earliest Roman missionaries, such as the sixth-century so-called Gospels of St Augustine.

This manuscript is a key monument in the history of script, book decoration, and manuscript production in early southern England. On fol. 11 it carries an extraordinary testimony to its own history: a nearly contemporary Old English inscription records how it was recovered by a certain Ælfred aldormon from a pagan (presumably Viking) army in return for gold, and presented to Christ Church, Canterbury.

From the publisher's website: http://www.rosenkilde-bagger.dk

1r-2r col.1 Jerome's prefatory letter, "Nouum opus"

2r-3r col.1 Jerome's preface, "Plures fuisse"

3v Blank

4r-4v, col.1 Capitula for Matthew (Natiuitas ihu xpi)

5r-8v Canon tables I-VIII (missing IX and X)

9r Blank

10r-61v col.1 Matthew's gospel (Liber generationis)

62r col.1-2 Preface to Mark (Marcus eungelista di. electus)

62r col.2-62br col.1 Capitula for Mark (Erat Ioh. Baptiz ihm)

63r-93v col.1 Mark's gospel (Initium)

94r-v Preface to Luke (Lucas syrus)

95r96r col.2 Capitula to Luke (Zachariae sacerdoti)

96v Blank

97r-148br Luke's gospel (Quoniam quidem)

149r Preface to John (Johannis euana. unus)

149r-149br Capitula to John (John. testimoniu.p.hibet)

150r Blank

150v Portrait of St. John

151r-191r John's gospel (In principio)

191v Quire signature