Early Manuscripts at Oxford University

November 8, 2003 12:52 AM

Early Manuscripts at Oxford University. 'This site provides access to over 80 early manuscripts now in institutions associated with the University of Oxford. Please read the information about using this website. '
'Between 1995 and 2000 the Early Manuscripts Imaging Project created high resolution digital images from manuscripts which were selected as major treasures from their respective libraries, to create wider availability for originals which may otherwise be too fragile for handling. '
posted by plep (5 comments total)

Good god, this is amazing. I picked a manuscript at random, clicked on the image at the left (which looked like a perfectly ordinary page of text with some designs at top and bottom and a little illuminated capital in the left column), and was plunged into a world of color and texture that could absorb me for quite a while. I've never seen such detail in an online image. It makes me want to take up paleography.

I must say, I was amused by this passage from the entry page:

Please note: We are aware that a number of manuscripts are incomplete. Unfortunately, the omission of some images only came to light after the project had completed (during the redesign of the website). We are currently in the process of identifying the resources needed to complete the scanning of these manuscripts. The incomplete manuscripts are still accessible from this site, on the principle that a nearly complete manuscript is better than none at all.

There'll always be an England! ("I say, Cedric, I took a tea break and now I can't remember if I scanned the verso of folio 27." "Ah, well, it'll all come out in the wash.")
posted by languagehat at 8:32 AM on November 8, 2003

Excellent post for Saturday perusal!
Coincidentally, my writing career is also based on the principle of a nearly complete manuscript being better than none at all.
Thanks for another terrific post, Plep. I've spent many hours on your site as well, and I appreciate this introduction to another nook of the world.
posted by TomSophieIvy at 2:19 PM on November 8, 2003

I love this, but I am just a tiny bit disappointed that none of the Cairo Genizah documents they have are online. I know there are far, far more at Cambridge, but still...
posted by Mo Nickels at 3:01 PM on November 8, 2003

Languagehat :-
The incomplete manuscripts are still accessible from this site, on the principle that a nearly complete manuscript is better than none at all.
Of course! I agree 100 %. :)

TomSophieIvy :- Thanks very much!
posted by plep at 8:10 PM on November 8, 2003

Great link! Yay
posted by dejah420 at 10:24 PM on November 8, 2003