AUTHOR: MONK EADFRITH

LANGUAGE: LATIN

DATE: 700

PAGES #: 518

VIEW THIS MANUSCRIPTS IN THE DIGITAL LIBRARY

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.75 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: "THE LINDISFARNE GOSPELS" IS AN ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT OF THE GOSPELS PRODUCED AROUND THE YEAR 700. THE MANUSCRIPT IS PRESUMED TO BE THE WORK OF A MONK NAMED EADFRITH, WHO BECAME BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE IN 698 AND DIED IN 721. THE GOSPELS WERE SAID TO BE COMMISSIONED IN HONOR OF SAINT CUTHBERT. THE LINDISFARNE MONASTERY IS OFF THE COAST OF NORTHUMBERLAND, KNOWN AS HOLY ISLAND. THE MANUSCRIPT IS ONE OF THE FINEST WORKS IN THE UNIQUE STYLE OF HIBERNO-SAXON, OR INSULAR ART, COMBINING MEDITERRANEAN, ANGLO-SAXON, AND CELTIC ELEMENTS AND WAS USED FOR CEREMONIAL PURPOSES. THE ORIGINAL COVER FOR THE LINDISFARNE GOSPELS WAS A BEAUTIFUL FINE LEATHER PIECE ADORNED IN JEWELS AND METALS MADE BY BILLFRITH THE ANCHORITE. THIS COVER WAS STOLEN AMONG OTHER PRECIOUS ST. CUTHBERT RELICS DURING A VIKING RAID. IN 1852 A NEW COVER THAT CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE ORIGINAL WAS COMMISSIONED BY BISHOP EDWARD MALTBY. THE LINDISFARNE GOSPELS ARE NOW KEPT AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY IN LONDON.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.