Author:  Dirc van Delf

Language: Dutch

Date: 1404

Pages: 342

Price: $299.99

History/Description: This manuscript is a document of the first importance in the history of Dutch manuscript illumination and contains an important medieval Dutch devotional text. The Tafel van den Kersten ghelove (Table of Christian faith) is a compendium of Christian knowledge, written by a learned Dominican, Dirc van Delf. The text is in two parts, one for winter, the other for summer. This manuscript is of the winter part and is incomplete, omitting the prologue and chapters 13, 14, and 35−57; chapters 23−24 are in inverse order. The arms of the Bavarian counts of Holland, and the kneeling owner on folio 1 recto, indicate that this manuscript was the actual copy prepared for the dedicatee of the text, Albrecht of Bavaria, Count of Holland, from the original text of his chaplain. It is therefore dated to 1404 at the latest, when Albrecht died. The manuscript contains 165 folios, and 35 historiated initials.

Reproduction Details: The hardcover books are made with two pieces of real wood on the inside. The leather is a 4 oz cowhide, from a small supplier in New York state. The Glue we use to attach the leather to the wood is made at our facility, and is a period correct wheat glue. Along the spine, we use a modern perfect binding, with modern glue, to make the binding last longer. We also add three layers of mull cloth to the outside of the perfect binding, drying in between each layer, a traditional way to make the binding stiff, strong, and resilient.

Note: All of our facsimiles are made to order. Please allow 4-6 weeks for notification of shipment.