Anno XI

AGOSTO-SETTEMBRE 1909

Dispensa 5-6a

La Bibliofilía

RIVISTA DELL'ARTE ANTICA

IN LIBRI, STAMPE, MANOSCRITTI, AUTOGRAFI E LEGATURE DIRETTA DA LEO S. OLSCHKI

The Famous Jeweled Book of Lindau

HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS
BOOKS IN THE WORLD-A SUPREME EXAMPLE OF MEDIEVAL
CHRISTIAN ART WHICH HAS FOUND A HOME IN AMERICA

By Gardner Teall.

wonderful volume, the Gospels of Lindau, which was once in the possession of the Earl of Ashburnham, has been brought to America by Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, in whose private library in New York it has finally found a permanent resting-place. There, in a vault carefully guarded by steel doors, is enshrined this most precious book in America, which, at the same time, is one of the greatest bibliographic treasures in the world.

This book contains a copy of St. Jerome's version of the four Gospels, each of which is preceded by an argument or preface; St. Jerome's Epistle to Pope Damasus, and the tables of the Eusebian canons, followed by the table of lessons, all marvelously inscribed on 220 leaves of vellum, illuminated in gold, silver, and colors, and bound between massive golden metal covers which are literally incrusted with precious gems and rare enamels in medieval design. These covers are lined with silk brocade in curious pattern dating from the fourth century.

Few such volumes exist, and of these Mr. Morgan's is probably the most perfect. Its history can be traced back through the centuries to the time when tradition assigns it as a gift from the Emperor Louis the Pious to the Abbey of Noble Canonesses founded by him A. D. 834 at Lindau, on Lake Constance.

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