Antique Ethiopian Coptic Christian Manuscript Hand Written Vellum Bible - 1700's

Description

This is a very rare Ethiopian Coptic Christian handwritten Bible Manuscript which is a Psalter from the 1700's. This Codex measures 7.23 inches long by 6.40 inches wide and is 3.20 inches thick. This Coptic Christian manuscript has been researched by Steve Delamarter - please see below for more information. This antique Ethiopian Bible is in good antique condition with leather bound wooden covers of which the front cover's binding strings have been broken long ago but the wooden front cover is still attach by leather binding. The leather binding the cover seems to be partially missing and the leather on the bottom lower spine is also slightly detached. A couple of pages have a small piece of missing vellum from being turned on the edge and a few have attempted repairs with stitching.
The pages are made of goat skin called vellum that has an amazing parchment like texture. The writing is in black and red paint or ink (red usually being reserved for the names of God, Saints and the Holy Family) made from plant juices and is in Ethiopic (Ge'ez) a language no longer used today except by the Ethiopian
Orthodox Church for religious purposes.
Ge'ez which is the country's earliest language and which has been referred to as the 'Latin of Ethiopia' and is used today only in the liturgy of the Ethiopian Church. Please see 'Ethiopian Magic Scrolls' by Jacques Mercier and 'The coinage of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somalia' by Dennis Gill for more information. Very sturdy and in great although slight worn condition from past use by previous owners.
This Coptic Bible has been researched by Steve Delamarter and the following information has been recorded for this specimen. Images of this Bible have also been donated to the Ethiopic Manuscript Imaging Project so as to be available for scholarly study.
Marwick Codex 60 (EMIP 3677)
Psalter
Description:
180 x 155 x 90, two boards, leather bound. Binding strings appear to have been broken at some point.
18
th
century paleography
Major Works:
1
Ff. 3r-204r: Ethiopian Psalter
a.
Ff. 3r-154v: 151 Psalms of David
b.
Ff. 154v-171v: Fifteen Biblical Canticles
c.
Ff. 172r-181r: Song of Songs
d.
Ff. 182r-197v: Praises of Mary
e.
Ff. 197v-204r: Gate of Light
Illuminations and Drawings:
1. F. 2v: Drawing of David Playing a Harp
2. F. 181v: The Virgin Mary Teaching Ephrem the Praises of Mary
3. F. 204v: Equestrian Saint, accompanied by a second rider
4. F. 205r: Saints Anthony and Abba Guba, with a patron praying below.
Varia:
Ff. 1v-2r: (miracle?) stories?
Notes:
1 1.
The word for God is not rubricated in the Psalter
2.
F. 78r: The midpoint of the Psalms is not marked
33.
The spiritual meanings of the Hebrew Letters in Psalm 118 have no interpretation.
4.
Psalm 151 is the short version (except for the inclusion of “and my savior” in verse 4.
5.  The Psalter has been marked for daily readings at various places in the Psalter.
This antique Ethiopian bible would be an excellent addition to any Ethiopian Christian collection.
I combine shipping on multiple buys so check out my eBay store Mountainamma's Marketplace where I have thousands of items to browse. For buyers of multiple items please message me before checking out for help combining shipping fees.