Excellent Books of the Middle Ages: 6 examples of non-standard antique copies

In the Late Middle Ages, the book was considered more an indicator of the scientific character of the owner, and his high social status. Each piece was made by hand and was virtually a work of art. And if the book was also non-standard, then its value increased significantly. This review provides examples of unique vintage books that surprise not with their content but with their appearance.

Six examples of unusual antique duplicates

1. A heart-shaped songbook

In the late Middle Ages, heart-shaped books were a popular trend. They were often filled with entertainment content rather than religious content. We are talking about songbooks in the form of hearts.

2. Codex Rotundus

This miniature masterpiece, known as the Codex Rotundus, dates back to 1480. This is a book of hours written in Latin and French. It is made in a non-standard, rounded shape. The diameter of the booklet is only 9 cm, and the length of the spine is 3 cm. On 266 pages, an unknown author depicted 30 unique capital letters. Now, this masterpiece of the 15th century is located in the city library of the German city of Hildesheim.

3. Belt Book

The belt book was so-called because it was worn on a belt. A piece of leather served as an extension of the book and was tucked into a belt or a person’s belt. Moreover, the book was hanging upside down, so you could read it without taking it off your belt. Similar books were popular in Germany and the Netherlands during the 15th and 16th centuries.

4. Double-sided book “dozado”

Similar double-sided books were used in the 16th and 17th centuries. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. Their unusual binding was called “dos-a-dos” (“dozado”). This method was often used in the creation of the Old and New Testaments.

5. A book that can be read in six different ways

This book is a more complex form of the previous one. It can be read in six different ways. In other words, it contains six different books. This ingenious creation was created in Germany in the 16th century. It includes religious texts from the past, including Martin Luther’s Little Catechism. The book is now kept in the Strängnäs Library (Sweden).

6. A book on a “leg”

In the 17th century, books weighed more than they do now. The children’s alphabet was a piece of paper enclosed in a frame on a leg. Thus, the child could hold the piece of wood between his legs and raise the alphabet to the required distance in front of his eyes.

When libraries began to appear in Europe, books were often chained up due to their high cost. Today, it seems wild, but in medieval libraries, the shelves were equipped with special rings for chains, which were long enough to work with the book, but at the same time, it was impossible to take it out of the room.