In an antiquarian book shop I am surrounded by history. Many of the books are on Australian history and at the moment we even have an illuminated manuscript from c1390. I love looking through old books. Trying to picture what it would have been like. Today I got to experience this in a different way.

A short elderly man pushed his way through the doors and with a thick European ancient announced that he use to live in our shop. He meandered around the shop informing us that he knew the layout well. He popped his head around the corner and then said “But in those days, we had no electricity.” Paul asked him when he lived here. “1957” he said.

He had such delight on his face as he reminisced and he giggled as he told me that on Saturday nights his parents would lock him inside. “That wouldn’t keep me in. I would just sneak out the windows.”

NINE LEAVES OF A MEDIEVAL ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT
Paris [circa 1390] 18pp. 11x15cm. Handwritten and illuminated manuscript on vellum.  A very good copy; the vellum on page seven was repaired before the manuscript was commence. Tantalizingly attractive. Four pages with an intricate gilt thorn-leaf pattern. 9 pages with a simple colour leaf pattern. 4 large (17x14mm) illuminated and illustrated initials including one initial with illustration of dragon like beast others with floral pattern. 66 smaller(8x6mm) illustrated and illuminated initials. A beautiful and very skillful work; decorated brightly with gilt, ultramarine, vermillion, white lead and rusty red. These eighteen enchanting pages are from a 1390 Book of Hours from the Totenoffizium (Office of the dead). $5000 AUD