A Coptic Psalter, 13th century

A Coptic Psalter with marginal Arabic annotations, containing early prayers in Coptic and portions of the Psalms [incomplete] together with prayers in Arabic. Marginal and some capital letter illuminations.

Books of the Psalms were known as psalters, often also containing calendars, canticles, prayers and creeds. They were popularly used for private devotions but could also be used for liturgical purposes where all 150 psalms were to be recited each week. Depictions of King David, supposed author of many of the Psalms, frequently introduce the psalter; many of the surviving examples are richly ornamented. Psalms were also important elements of prayer books and later in books of hours.

Single item

By appointment with the Keeper of Manuscripts. Access to records containing confidential information may be restricted.

Purchased in 1946 for ten guineas.

Call number used to be ms781

Individual Manuscripts and Small Collections database available as part of Manuscripts Database.

Binding: crushed brown morocco (modern). In crushed brown morocco bound slip case with title 'Fragments de Liturge Copte. Siecle XIII' on the spine. Paper: ff.1 and 2 9x13cm; ff.3-12 12x17.5 cm; ff.13-37 13x18.2 cm approx; ff.38-45 12.4x16.8cm.

Description compiled by Maia Sheridan, Archives Hub project archivist, based on material from the Manuscripts Database

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Keeper of Manuscripts. Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.

An anonymous note in French says that the manuscript was a gift from a friar of the 'Couvent des Syriens' in the valley of the salt lakes of Natroun (Natron), 27 January 1798. A French hand notes that the volume was found in the convent.

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