Books written by hand, decorated with paintings and ornaments of different kinds. They may enclose the whole of the text space or occupy only a small part of the margin of the page.
Manuscripts are for the most part written on skin, parchment , or vellum.
From the 14th century, paper was used for less sumptuous copies. Although a number of books have miniatures and ornaments executed in outline drawing only, the majority are fully coloured. By the 15th cent. During the 15th and 16th centuries, illuminations were added to printed books.