Scans of medieval and renaissance manuscripts

May 3, 2008 10:06 AM

Columbia University's Digital Scriptorium is a database of high quality scans from medieval and renaissance manuscripts. The highlights section alone is breathtaking, but you can search and browse through over 5000 manuscripts and almost 25000 individual images.
posted by Kattullus (15 comments total)

There's tons of stuff to be found. While idly browsing through their Boethius listings, I found this beautiful version of The Consolations of Philosophy.
posted by Kattullus at 10:11 AM on May 3, 2008

Fantastic! Bonus points if anyone can tell me what these things that look like the ends of guitars are supposed to be; juggling clubs? With jingle bells?
posted by everichon at 10:31 AM on May 3, 2008

"Opening historiated initial, with grotesques; somewhat damaged."
Not unlike a MeFi thread then!
Lovely stuff, Katullus.
posted by Abiezer at 10:31 AM on May 3, 2008

I think you're right about the juggling clubs there everichon. With bells on.
posted by Abiezer at 10:32 AM on May 3, 2008

So cool.
posted by everichon at 10:40 AM on May 3, 2008

I guess something good came of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries AMIRITE.
posted by resurrexit at 10:40 AM on May 3, 2008

Great post, thanks !
posted by pantufla at 10:47 AM on May 3, 2008

They had amazingly modern rulers in mediaeval times, and metric too!
posted by Abiezer at 10:49 AM on May 3, 2008

Thanks, Kattullus, this is neat. Only wish there were more illuminations
posted by jonson at 10:50 AM on May 3, 2008

Thanks for posting this. My husband and I worked on selecting and describing the manuscripts from Harry Ransom Center way back in 1999-2000. The experience spoiled me for all future library work - I never had as much fun* as I did working on this project.

*Library-related, that is.
posted by bibliowench at 11:40 AM on May 3, 2008

Thanks! Great find, Kattullus!
posted by stagewhisper at 11:43 AM on May 3, 2008

Magnifique!
posted by languagehat at 11:52 AM on May 3, 2008

thank you, sire!
posted by Busithoth at 3:37 PM on May 3, 2008

Your posts are always fantastic, Kattullus.

These are so beautiful. It is just sad that neither St Foy nor St Guinefort are represented. It is kind of neat to see that greyhounds begged by staring intensely in the olden days, just as they do now.
posted by winna at 4:26 PM on May 3, 2008

This is lovely.

That said, I can't wait to see these manuscripts used to create images like these.
posted by redteam at 8:56 PM on May 3, 2008