Antique Ethiopian Coptic Christian Manuscript Hand Written Vellum Bible Codex 44

Description

This is a rare antique Ethiopian Coptic Christian handwritten Bible / Manuscript which is a Psalter. This Codex measures 7 inches long by 4.40 inches wide and is 3.33 inches thick.
This Coptic Bible has been researched by Steve Delamarter and Melaku Terefe - please see below for more information.
This Bible has two hand carved wooden covers on the front and back through which very fine holes are drilled and strung with string which goes through all the pages to make a very simple yet effective binding. The pages are made of goat skin called vellum that has an amazing parchment like texture. The writing is in black and red paint or ink (red usually being reserved for the names of God, Saints and the Holy Family) made from plant juices and is in Ethiopic (Ge'ez) a language no longer used today except by the Ethiopian
Orthodox Church for religious purposes.
Ge'ez which is the country's earliest language and which has been referred to as the 'Latin of Ethiopia' and is used today only in the liturgy of the Ethiopian Church. Please see 'Ethiopian Magic Scrolls' by Jacques Mercier and 'The coinage of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somalia' by Dennis Gill for more information. Very sturdy and in great although slight worn condition from past use by previous owners.
This beautiful Coptic Bible has an original antique hand painted picture of an
Angel with sword and scabbard.
Most antique Ethiopian Bibles on the market today have had new paintings done on top of the ancient text by modern artists of Ethiopia - although the art is lovely it is a practice aimed at making the bibles "worth more" which is destroying the words & history I feel we should protect. Please be assured that this manuscript's painting is original, antique and in no way is it a new piece of art painted into an old bible with the mistaken thought as to make it more worthy of collecting.
This Coptic Bible has been researched by Steve Delamarter and Melaku Terefe and the following information has been recorded for this specimen. Images of this Bible have also been donated to the Ethiopic Manuscript Imaging Project so as to be available for scholarly study.
Marwick Codex #44 -
Psalter
Parchment, 180 x 120 x 75 mm, 14 quires, 156 folios, Ge‘ez, 19th/20th century.
Miniatures:
1. Angel with sword and scabbard.
2. Crude drawing in pencil of Jesus on the Cross.
This bible would be an excellent addition to any Ethiopian Christian collection.
I combine shipping on multiple buys so check out my eBay store Mountainamma's Marketplace where I have thousands of items to browse. For buyers of multiple items please message me before checking out for help combining shipping fees.