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uring the middle ages, the practice of recovering texts of classical origin was adopted in monasteries, by means of a painstaking, well-aligned script of even height, the very image of the serenity of those who penned it, mirroring the decorum of their lives. For over 1000 years, manuscripts would be the heritage of monks. From the eleventh century, each abbey and each monastery had its own "SCRIPTORIUM", where work was done copying or creating, decorating or binding. The composition of illuminated lettering goes through several different stages; the pen, the ink, the gilding, the strokes of different colours interlaced and underlined with darker shades. Calligraphers illuminators, miniaturists and binders: the copyist monks became ARTISTS, and their creations works of art. In 1492 printing arrived, and through its circulation power set the production of HAND WRITTEN MANUSCRIPTS into decline, though giving them a new value, as the printed manuscript could not compete in detail or in finish with the patient devotion of the "SCRIPTORIUM".

These facsimile editions represent the freeing of ancestral knowledge from the confines of palaces, museums, libraries or abbeys, to become the heritage of humanity ending the exclusive privilege of owning something as precious as gold -manuscripts: the results of the patient work of monks and calligraphers for whom time did not exist, years devoted to copying and to the richest illuminations of unique codices, fashioned like jewels.

Through its Facsimile Editions SCRIPTORIUM allows works of art of bibliographical nature to go on carrying out the function, for which they were created, for centuries more: the delight of the senses in the contemplation or study of what are genuine treasures.

SCRIPTORIUM combines the most ancient techniques of tooling and binding with the latest graphic art technologies to transfer the testimony of the past to the present day. Skilled hands repeat the ancient processes, using the original materials and tools in the painstaking, patient way required. To obtain a Facsimile Edition is to feel under your fingers the delight, which up until now was reserved for only a privileged few, as the art and wisdom, the creation and reflection of works that endure in time as objects of beauty and singular luxury are revealed before your eyes, in the form of works whose bibliophile quality means they are an unquestionable legacy with a highly upward trend.

The magnificent volumes published by SCRIPTORIUM can be obtained from your specialist Facsimile Book supplier - e-mail - finns@finns-books.com..

To go to the Facsimile Books Table of Contents click here -