Special Offers - Monographs
Das Reichenauer Perikopenbuch:
Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Bibliothek, Cod. Guelf. 84.5 Aug 2°
Early 11th century, Reichenau
Graz : Akademische Druck- und Verlagsanstalt, 2009
(Codices Selecti, volume 114)
109 folios on 218 pages, format 28 x 18,5 cm
The manuscript was produced in the scriptorium of the monastery on the island of Reichenau. It has been in the possession of the Herzog August Bibliothek in Wolfenbüttel after it was bought in the 17th century by Duke August the Younger of Braunschweig-Lüneburg (1579-1666) who was a renowned collector and the founder of the library in Wolfenbüttel known as Herzog August Bibliothek. It was probably part of the Hildesheim cathedral treasures before it was stolen in the War of Thirty Years and disappeared until the late 17th century.
The manuscript was produced around the year 1000. The 109 perikopen or readings represent texts of the four Evangelists and are arranged thematically in accordance with the church year. Selected days of observance are represented by 9 full page miniatures that excel by their colors and the rich gold platings. It must have been a personality of high standing who placed the order for the manuscript. It is assumed that it was an Emperor Heinrich II (1002-1024) who may have dedicated it to the Hildesheimer cathedral which he visited on March 26, 1013.
The superb facsimile is distributed in two versions. The leather edition is limited to 400 copies and comes in leather case together with the commentary volume.
The prepayment price valid to November 30, 2008 is EUR 3,980.00. The later price until the projected publication in summer of 2009 is EUR 4,950.00. The final price after publication will be higher, provided that copies will still be available at that time.
The luxury editions comes in a binding that contains a reproduction of the ivory relief mounted on the original (12 x 11.5 cm) and is presented in a luxury case together with the commentary volume. It is limited to an edition of 99 copies.
For this luxury edition, the prepayment price valid until November 30, 2008 is EUR 5,950.00. The later subscription price until publication is set at EUR 6,900.00.
The author of the commentary volume is Thomas Labusiak, Director of the Museum in Bad Gandersheim, a renowned art historian and manuscript specialist.
Please order through your normal library channels, or contact service@harrassowitz.de for further information.