Codicology
Encyclopedia
Codicology is the study of books as physical objects, especially manuscript
s written on parchment (or paper) in codex
form. It is often referred to as 'the archaeology of the book', concerning itself with the materials (parchment
, sometimes referred to as membrane or vellum
, paper
, pigments, inks and so on), and techniques used to make books, including their binding.
There are no clear-cut definitions: some codicologists say that their field encompasses palaeography
, the study of handwriting, while some palaeographers say that their field encompasses codicology. The study of written features such as marginalia
, glosses, ownership inscriptions, etc. falls in both camps, as does the study of the physical aspects of decoration
, which otherwise belongs to art history
.
By a close examination of the physical attributes of a book, it is sometimes possible to establish the history and provenance of a book, or to match up long-separated elements originally from the same book. Palaeographers and codicologists may also study the history of libraries, manuscript-collecting and of book-cataloguing.
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
s written on parchment (or paper) in codex
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
form. It is often referred to as 'the archaeology of the book', concerning itself with the materials (parchment
Parchment
Parchment is a thin material made from calfskin, sheepskin or goatskin, often split. Its most common use was as a material for writing on, for documents, notes, or the pages of a book, codex or manuscript. It is distinct from leather in that parchment is limed but not tanned; therefore, it is very...
, sometimes referred to as membrane or vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
, paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
, pigments, inks and so on), and techniques used to make books, including their binding.
There are no clear-cut definitions: some codicologists say that their field encompasses palaeography
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
, the study of handwriting, while some palaeographers say that their field encompasses codicology. The study of written features such as marginalia
Marginalia
Marginalia are scribbles, comments, and illuminations in the margins of a book.- Biblical manuscripts :Biblical manuscripts have liturgical notes at the margin, for liturgical use. Numbers of texts' divisions are given at the margin...
, glosses, ownership inscriptions, etc. falls in both camps, as does the study of the physical aspects of decoration
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
, which otherwise belongs to art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
.
By a close examination of the physical attributes of a book, it is sometimes possible to establish the history and provenance of a book, or to match up long-separated elements originally from the same book. Palaeographers and codicologists may also study the history of libraries, manuscript-collecting and of book-cataloguing.
Important Collections
There exist meanwhile some very good Online-Databases with research functions for medieval manuscripts - German as well as Anglo-American area.- Codices Electronici Ecclesiae Coloniensis, Universität Köln, about 500 manuscripts (mostly German speaking area, with fotos.
- 'Marburger Repertorium of German Manuscripts in the 13th and 14th C.', Philipps-Universität Marburg (descriptive catalog) (not included are solitary documents and minimal inscriptions in Latin Manuscripts).
- Codices Electronici Sangallenses have registered manuscript of St. Gallen.
- Department for Special Collections, University Library of GrazUniversity Library of GrazThe University Library of Graz is the largest scientific and public library in Styria and the third largest in Austria. It holds the right of legal deposit...
, Online-Catalogue with over 2.000 registered manuscripts partially already (2011) with detailed paleografic descriptions and digitally complete versions. - Catalogue for Austria with illuminiated manuscripts of 8th - 13th C.
- British LibraryBritish LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
, serveral huge collections e.g. Harlean Collection (also via Online Katalog). The known anglo-saxon works like BeowulfBeowulfBeowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single...
or Lindisfarne Gospel (Book of Lindisfarne). - Bodleian LibraryBodleian LibraryThe Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
, Oxford, catalogue, collections similar to the British Library, easy to use. Works all in good quality online. - Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, Washington D.C., huge catalogue of manuscript collections. - Hill Monastic Manuscripts Library in Collegeville/Massachusetts, 90.000 manuscripts from aus Austria and Spain.