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Medieval Religious Texts of the Rare Book Room in Kent Library

This guide will provide students with an introduction to six early religious texts from the Charles Harrison Rare Book Collection.

Religious Manual containing the writings of Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, and Saint Bonaventure and the Greek alphabet, early 15th Century Manuscript

Manuscript written in Latin on paper in the early 15th century.  The commentaries in the manuscript are from three different periods in Church history showing an ideological evolution.  This manuscript on the Church’s understanding of the body and the soul would have been primarily read by Franciscans.  The language in the book is interesting as it features a more complex language system and Latin abbreviations. 

  • Bound in tooled cowhide with metal clasps
  • Title page is recycled vellum
  • Features illuminated initials
  • Worm holes in binding
  • In good condition but incomplete

Image 1

This very small religious manual is pocket-sized, and therefore portable for its owner. Notice the decorative tooling on the front cover of the text.

Click to enlarge the image.  

Image 2

Inside front cover. 

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Image 3

This text is written on paper, not vellum. Notice the large, hand-painted illuminated initial on the left. 

Click on the image to enlarge.