Facsimiles and Studies

Alexander, J.J.G. The Master of Mary of Burgundy: A Book of Hours for Engelbert of Nassau. Geo. Braziller.
Facsimile edition of a Flemish book of hours from the last quarter of the fifteenth century. Lots of troempe l'oiel. Highly recommended.
Atil, Esin. Suleymannname: The Illustrated History of Suleyman the Magnificent. Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
Study/facsimile of a Turkish manuscript of the sixteenth century. Interesting, beautiful, and quite different from Western manuscripts of the era. Recommended.
Backhouse, Janet. The Becket Leaves. British Library.
This is a VERY SHORT (32pp) book concerned with a fragment of a manuscript. The Becket Leaves are 4 leaves from a verse telling of the life of Thomas a Becket. The work was created in the 1200's and was probably by one of the first known English manuscript artists, Matthew Paris. However, if you aren't in love with Matthew Paris' green wash style (I ain't), you might be better off spending your US$15 on some other book. Only the scholarship of Janet Backhouse (always a delight to read what she has to say) brings me to call this book Somewhat Recommended.
-------------. The Bedford Hours. New Amsterdam Books.
Short study of the manuscript named in the title; a French work from the first half of the fifteenth century. Ms. Backhouse's commentary is, as usual, informative and easy to read. Recommended.
--------------. The Hastings Hours. Pomegranate Artbooks.
Small study of a Flemish manuscript of the last quarter of the fifteenth century. This is a very small book, presenting selected pages--primarily examples of miniatures, only 2 text pages--and a easy-to-read description and study of the manuscript. Nice. Recommended.
--------------. The Isabella Breviary. The British Library.
Another nice study from Ms. Backhouse, with all the same fine qualities as her other studies. The manuscript presented here was Flemish-made for Isabella of Castile in the last quarter of the fifteenth century (prior to 1492!). Recommended--Highly Recommended if you like the Flemish style of this period.
--------------. The Lindesfarne Gospels. {*} Phaidon.
A nice study, on par with all of Ms. Backhouse's other works. Only the idea that I already have enough Insular/Celtic stuff in my library keeps me from purchasing this modestly priced book. Recommended.
-------------. The Luttrell Psalter. New Amsterdam Books.
The Luttrell Psalter is probably one of the most merrily decorated manuscripts I know. This is an English manuscript of the early 1300's. The commentary on the manuscript is, as usual, quite enjoyable to read. Recommended.
Bocskay, Georg. Mira Calligaphiae Monumenta. J. Paul Getty Museum.
This is an exceptionally beautiful facsimile of a late sixteenth century manuscript. Many calligraphed pages, with very naturalistic illuminations. Highly recommended.
Brown, Peter. The Book of Kells: 48 Pages and Details in Color from the Manuscript at Trinity College, Dublin. {*} Thames and Hudson.
A short study of the manuscript; the title says it all. Recommended.
Cockerell, Sydney. Old Testament Miniatures: A Medieval Picture Book with 283 Paintings from the Creation to the Story of David. Geo. Braziller.
A very large facsimile of the existing leaves of a French manuscript begun about 1250, with an added Italian transcription circa 1300 and an added Arabic transcription of the seventeenth century. A very nice book, one of my personal favorites.
Davis, Martin. The Gutenberg Bible. Pomegranate Artbooks.
Small study of one of the first printed works. I wish there were more pictures of actual Gutenberg Bibles, but on the whole, it is a fairly nice introduction to the subject. Somewhat recommended.
Deuchler, Florens, et al. The Cloisters Apocalypse. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Two-volume set. Volume I: Facsimile of the pages of an early 14th century manuscript, probably produced in Normandy and based on an English exemplar. Volume II: Discussion and translation of the text of the Apocalypse. All together, a very nice set. Recommended.
Eisler, C. and P. Corbett. The Prayer Book of Michelino da Besozzo.{*} Geo. Braziller.
Facsimile of an Italian manuscript circa 1400. This is an unusual manuscript; its naturalistic treatment of the flower borders is unusual for the time. Highly Recommended--if you can find it.
Fouquet, Jean. The Hours of Etienne Chevalier. Geo. Braziller
Facsimile and translation of a mid-fifteenth century French work. Jean Fouquet was one of the best illuminators of the era, and the miniatures in this book make it clear why he is considered so. This book contains few border decorations--but, as I have noted, one look at the miniatures and you'll see why. Recommended.
Goldstein, David. The Ashkenazi Haggadah. H. Abrams, Inc.
Facsimile and translation of a Hebrew work, German, mid-fifteenth century. Very large book currently out in a very affordable edition. Recommended.
Gould, Karen. The Psalter and Hours of Yolande of Soissons. Mediaeval Academy of America.
An in-depth study: there are more text pages devoted to the discussion of the psalter in this book then there are plates and pages combined in most of the other studies in this bibliography. Contains 68 black & white plates. Recommended.
Gray, Basil. The World History of Rashid al-Din. Faber & Faber.
Study of a fragment of a fourteenth century Persian manuscript. It is very interesting in that the style of the illumination shows a distinctive Chinese influence, even in those illuminations not concerned with a Chinese subject. Recommended.
Henry, Francoise. The Book of Kells: Reproductions from the Manuscript at Trinity College, Dublin. {*} Alfred Knopf.
This facsimile/study is probably the ultimate tome on the Book of Kells (a manuscript of the ninth century) currently on the market. Must be seen, even if you can't afford the price. Highly Recommended.
Katzenstein, R. and E. Savage-Smith. The Leiden Aratea: Ancient Constellations in a Medieval Manuscript. J. Paul Getty Museum.
A very small book featuring the illuminations from a Carolingian astrological/astronomical manuscript. The study shows only one text page. It's not a spectacular book, but it is interesting, nonetheless. Somewhat recommended.
Klinkenborg, Verlyn and Patrick O'Brian. The Drake Manuscript. Andre Deutsch Limited
Unlike most of the books in this list, this illuminated manuscript is not concerned with a religious subject. It's a late 16th century collection of watercolors about New World plants, animals, and natives. The style is quite primitive compared to the best books of the day, but it is still a very interesting facsimile. Although I like the book a lot, as an example of the best of the art of the book, I'd have to give it a Somewhat Recommended.
Krasa, Josef. The Travels of Sir John Mandeville. Geo. Braziller.
A partial facsimile of an unusual fifteenth century Bohemian manuscript. The style is grissaile on a green base--very distinctive. Recommended.
Kren, T., et al. The Visions of Tondal: from the Library of Margaret of York. J. Paul Getty Museum.
Burgundian illumination of the last half of the 15th century--Simon Marmion did the miniatures, and the book focuses primarily on the small paintings. There are a few borders-with-text pages reproduced, but for the most part, such things are ignored. Short study of the manuscript. Recommended.
Longnon, J., et al. The Tres Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry. {*} Geo. Braziller, Inc.
A study of what is, with the Book of Kells, probably the most famous manuscript of the Middle Ages. Tres Riches is a French manuscript of the early 1400's; its title is entirely appropriate, for it is indeed an exceptionally beautiful manuscript. Recommended.
Marrow, James. As Horas de Margarida de Cleves (The Hours of Margaret of Cleves). Museu Calouste Gulbenkian.
A dual language (English and Portuguese) study of a book of hours probably made in Utrecht between 1390-1410. 15 color plates of the manuscript and 44 B&W plates of a variety of Dutch manuscripts for comparison and contrast. Recommended.
Marrow, James, and Francois Avril. The Hours of Simon de Varie. J. Paul Getty Museum.
Partial facsimile and extensive study of a French book of hours from 1455. This is a very beautiful book, well worth your look. Recommended.
Meehan, Bernard. The Book of Durrow: A Medieval Masterpiece at Trinity College Dublin. {*} {*} Roberts Rinehart.
Study of an insular manuscript created sometime prior to 800. Not as flashy but every bit as worthy as the Book of Kells. Recommended.
Meiss, M. and E. Kirsh. The Visconti Hours. {*} {*} Geo. Braziller.
Another excellent study/facsimile. The Visconti Hours is an Italian work of the early fifteenth century. Recommended.
Meiss, M. and M. Thomas. The Rohan Master: A Book of Hours. Geo. Braziller.
Study/Facsimile of a French manuscript of the first quarter of the fifteenth century. Rather crude in comparison to many manuscripts of the era. Somewhat Recommended.
Meiss, M. and E. Beatson. La Vie de Nostre Benoit Sauveur Ihesuscrist & La Saincte de Nostre Dame. New York University Press.
A study and transcription of two French manuscripts of the fifteenth century. Plates are in black and white. Somewhat Recommended.
Narkiss, Bezalel. The Golden Haggadah. Pomegranate Artbooks.
A Hebrew manuscript made around 1320 in Spain. Nice example. Recommended.
Ogg, Oscar. Three Classics of Italian Calligraphy (The Writing Books of Arrighi, Tagliente, Palatino). Dover.
Three small writing manuals by three giants of Italian Calligraphy. These three Facsimiles are bound into one edition of Italian writing; however, unless you read Italian as was written in the sixteenth century, the instructions won't do you much good. However, if you are looking for a visual reference for this era, this book is great! Recommended.
Plummer, John. The Hours of Catherine of Cleves. {*} {*} Geo. Braziller.
Another excellent study of a manuscript; this is one of my favorites. Flemish book of hours of the early fifteenth century. Recommended.
Rorimer, James (introduction). The Belles Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry, Prince of France. {*} The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Primarily a visual reference. The Belles Heures is a French manuscript, made by the Limbourg Brothers between 1410-1413. This book contains a little more than 30 of the pages, and is very beautiful. Highly Recommended.
Sutton, A. and L. Visser-Fuchs. The Hours of Richard III. Alan Sutton Publishing Limited.
Primarily a study of the mentioned manuscript, with approximately 5 color plates and perhaps 20 B&W. It is an English manuscript of about 1420. Somewhat Recommended
Smith, Webster. The Farnese Hours. Geo. Braziller.
Facsimile of a late sixteenth century book of hours. The style of the illumination is more Baroque then Renaissance, and I hate it. That doesn't diminish its worth to those who like the style, and there isn't anything wrong with the text. So I give it a Recommended for those who like the style.
Sullivan, T. & R. Valette. Reflections on the Connolly Book of Hours. University Press of Boston College.
A personal rather than a scholarly study of a 15th century, French book of hours. While the writers do address the means of production and so forth (including a nice selection of translated prayers from the Connolly Hours), the focus of the book is on how a variety of guest writers personally react to each page pictured in this book. 32 color plates, a few b&w plates. Recommended.
Unknown. The Book of Kells: Selected Color Plates. {*} Dover.
About 15 color plates from the Book of Kells printed near actual size. Strictly a visual reference. Recommended.

Unknown. The Grimani Breviary: Reproduced from the Illuminated Manuscript Belonging to the Bibloteca Marciana. Overlook Press.
Exceptional facsimile of a Flemish manuscript made between 1480-1520. A number of the calendar pages are clearly based on the Tres Riches Heures. Lots of troemp l'oeil. Highly Recommended.
Unknown. The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreaux. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Facsimile of an exquisite grissaile-style French book of hours from the fourteenth century. Recommended--if you can find it.

Unterkircher, F. King Rene's Book of Love.{*} Geo. Braziller.
An exquisite bit of French work from the fifteenth century, this study concerns itself with an allegorical romance penned by King Rene. Very beautiful. Recommended.

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