Pristine 9th century gospel to be sold for up
to £10m
A
pristine 9th century gospel which was thought to have been lost or missing for
about twenty years, is to be sold for £1.5 million. Experts say that it is
unlikely that “anything comparable” will ever be offered to the public again.
“The Gospels of Queen Theutberga of Lorraine”, a rare example of a 9th century complete work, is to come up for sale at Christie’s, London.
The manuscript, which contains 200 leaves, is said to be in remarkable condition, and has been held in some of the greatest book collections in recent history. After having been sold to a mystery private bidder in 1997, it has been the subject of much debate in academic circles, and has no full digital or microfilm record showing its entire contents available for them to study.
Dr Eugenio Donadoni, a specialist in Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts at Christie’s, hailed the “fantastic” condition and provenance of the book, saying being told it was to be sold from a European collection was the moment auctioneers “live for”.
“The Gospels of Queen Theutberga of Lorraine”, a rare example of a 9th century complete work, is to come up for sale at Christie’s, London.
The manuscript, which contains 200 leaves, is said to be in remarkable condition, and has been held in some of the greatest book collections in recent history. After having been sold to a mystery private bidder in 1997, it has been the subject of much debate in academic circles, and has no full digital or microfilm record showing its entire contents available for them to study.
Dr Eugenio Donadoni, a specialist in Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts at Christie’s, hailed the “fantastic” condition and provenance of the book, saying being told it was to be sold from a European collection was the moment auctioneers “live for”.
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Farnham Book Fair
Farnham
Maltings Book Fair
Sunday 10 May 10am-3pm.
Thames Book Fairs are holding their first Farnham Book Fair of 2015 in the historic old Malthouse central Farnham Surrey. Around 35 exhibitors, displaying a wide range of books for collectors and the general reader. There are military specialists, modern firsts, juvenile and illustrated plus some ephemera and prints and much more.
Delicious refreshments and rest area. Two large free car parks on site. Full address The Maltings, Red Lion Lane, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR Sign posted from all roads into Farnham. A great day out for book lovers.
For details of all fairs with list of exhibitors, subject areas and contact details: click here
Sunday 10 May 10am-3pm.
Thames Book Fairs are holding their first Farnham Book Fair of 2015 in the historic old Malthouse central Farnham Surrey. Around 35 exhibitors, displaying a wide range of books for collectors and the general reader. There are military specialists, modern firsts, juvenile and illustrated plus some ephemera and prints and much more.
Delicious refreshments and rest area. Two large free car parks on site. Full address The Maltings, Red Lion Lane, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR Sign posted from all roads into Farnham. A great day out for book lovers.
For details of all fairs with list of exhibitors, subject areas and contact details: click here
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Bernard Quaritch Ltd
Carrying
Off the Palaces: John Ruskin's Lost Daguerreotypes
A lecture by Ken Jacobson
Weston Library, Oxford
Wednesday 3 June, 5.15pm
At a small country
auction in 2006, Ken and Jenny Jacobson discovered one lightly regarded lot, a
distressed mahogany box crammed with long-lost early photographs. They were
daguerreotypes and all are now confirmed as once belonging to John Ruskin, the
great nineteenth-century art critic, writer, artist and social reformer.
Moreover, the box turned out to contain the largest collection of
daguerreotypes of Venice in the world and probably the earliest surviving
photographs of the Alps.
The lecture will be held at the Bodleian Library's new Weston Library and will be followed by a book signing and wine reception in the building's Visiting Scholars' Centre until 7pm. Further information can be found here. This event celebrates the publication in March by Bernard Quaritch Ltd of Carrying Off the Palaces: John Ruskin's Lost Daguerreotypes by Ken and Jenny Jacobson.
This event is free and interest is expected to be high. Places are strictly limited and are being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please book here.
If you can't make it to Oxford and would like to place an order for the book, please email Alice Ford-Smith (a.ford-smith@quaritch.com).
A lecture by Ken Jacobson
Weston Library, Oxford
Wednesday 3 June, 5.15pm
At a small country
auction in 2006, Ken and Jenny Jacobson discovered one lightly regarded lot, a
distressed mahogany box crammed with long-lost early photographs. They were
daguerreotypes and all are now confirmed as once belonging to John Ruskin, the
great nineteenth-century art critic, writer, artist and social reformer.
Moreover, the box turned out to contain the largest collection of
daguerreotypes of Venice in the world and probably the earliest surviving
photographs of the Alps. The lecture will be held at the Bodleian Library's new Weston Library and will be followed by a book signing and wine reception in the building's Visiting Scholars' Centre until 7pm. Further information can be found here. This event celebrates the publication in March by Bernard Quaritch Ltd of Carrying Off the Palaces: John Ruskin's Lost Daguerreotypes by Ken and Jenny Jacobson.
This event is free and interest is expected to be high. Places are strictly limited and are being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please book here.
If you can't make it to Oxford and would like to place an order for the book, please email Alice Ford-Smith (a.ford-smith@quaritch.com).
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More from Mark Twain
As
a twenty-nine years old newspaperman in San Francisco Mark Twain wrote
some stories which have remained unknown until now.
One hundred and fifty years ago Twain wrote some of the letters and stories at the San Francisco Chronicle when it was called the San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle, where his job included writing a 2,000-word dispatch every day and sending it off by stagecoach for publication in the Territorial Enterprise newspaper in Virginia City, Nevada.
His topics ranged from San Francisco police – who at one point attempted, unsuccessfully, to sue Twain for comparing their chief to a dog chasing its tail to impress its mistress – to mining accidents.
Bob Hirst is editor of the UC Berkeley’s Mark Twain project, which unearthed the articles by combing through western newspaper archives and scrapbooks. The author’s characteristic style authenticated some of the unsigned letters.
One hundred and fifty years ago Twain wrote some of the letters and stories at the San Francisco Chronicle when it was called the San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle, where his job included writing a 2,000-word dispatch every day and sending it off by stagecoach for publication in the Territorial Enterprise newspaper in Virginia City, Nevada.
His topics ranged from San Francisco police – who at one point attempted, unsuccessfully, to sue Twain for comparing their chief to a dog chasing its tail to impress its mistress – to mining accidents.
Bob Hirst is editor of the UC Berkeley’s Mark Twain project, which unearthed the articles by combing through western newspaper archives and scrapbooks. The author’s characteristic style authenticated some of the unsigned letters.
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