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he Martirologium, as the name itself reveals, is a general compendium of all the Martyrs of the Catholic Church presented under a form of a calendar, listing, for each day of the year, the names of the saints and the different sufferings and tortures they underwent. Its 705 illuminations, painted in lavish colours and gold, are a magnificent example of International Gothic art. They are the work of great illuminators, whose style and creativity go beyond human capacity, as if inspired by the divine. The illuminations are studied in detail by Dr. Joaquín Yarza, Professor of History of Art, of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

The manuscript was executed in Prague towards 1400 by order of Wenceslas, emperor and King of Bohemia. Towards the end of the XVIIth century, Pere Antoni d'Aragó i Folc de Cardona i Fernández de Córdoba, donated the manuscript, included in his personal collection, to the Monastery of Poblet. At the present time the manuscript is kept by the Museu Diocesà of Girona, part of the Museu d'Art of Girona.

This Facsimile edition consists of 2 volumes: a facsimile of Martirologium Usuardi, and a commentary volume in Spanish, containing a codicological and historical study, and a transcription and translation of the text by different specialists, Dr. Arnall, Dr. Studnickova and Dr. Yarza. With this edition we want to render homage to the extraordinary skill of the authors, great artists that used their talent to represent the history of the martyrs. These great masters of miniature and alchemy are not, and have never been, as well known as other painters and consequently, as appreciated as they undoubtedly deserve.

The Facsimile is printed on especially hand made paper for this codex reproducing the thickness touch and smell of the original manuscript and is 252 pages, size 463 x 330 mm.

This unique issue is limited to 987 copies, numbered and authenticated by affidavit.