5th Century: Oldest Surviving Biblical Manuscript

Books, Miniatures, Writing and Supports
(Timeline Project)

5th c – Oldest surviving biblical manuscript; first editions of Christian Bible Quedlinburg Italia – Fragments of 6 folios from a large illuminated manuscript of an Old Latin translation of the Christian Bible (probably produced in Rome in 420s or 430s).  Pieces were reused in bindings of other books bound in 1618 in Quedlinburg, Germany. Uncial script.

This post is part of an ongoing series on books, miniatures, writing and supports since the year 1. Please consider it a kick-start for your own private timeline and a springboard for further research. See my blog for the rest of the series.

Bookbinding, Metalsmithing and Glass
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4th Century: Codex Sinaiticus

Books, Miniatures, Writing and Supports
(Timeline Project)

4th century – One of the oldest known versions of a complete New Testament: Codex Sinaiticus. This is the earliest known use of iron-gall ink, which fades to brown over time – a mixture of tannin from nut galls and iron sulfate – sometimes carbon black was added for a dense black ink. Written in Greek Uncial in scriptio continua (no separations between words) in 4 columns on parchment. The main text hand is ~4mm high. It is no longer in its binding and is distributed over 4 institutions.

This post is part of an ongoing series on books, miniatures, writing and supports since the year 1. Please consider it a kick-start for your own private timeline and a springboard for further research. See my blog for the rest of the series.