The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-18
MANY RARE OLD BOOKS
FOR THE BIBLIOPHILES
Psalter of Thirteenth Century Valued
at $1,000.

PHILADELPHIA, May 1s.-A $1,000
Psalter, $500 ''Biblia Sacra." ammo
tated by Nicolai de Lyra. and a 81, 600
hymnal are among number of rare an
cient manuscript volumes that will be
on exhibition for two days. beginning
tomorrow. at Linsay's, Eleventh and
Walnut Streets
These literary curios are part of the
collection of Martinus Niihon, Of The
Hague, known TO the bibliophiles of the
world as an assiduous and successful
seeker after treasures of medieval lit
erature and art.
The Latin PsaIter, which is preceded
by calendar of saints days from 1865
TO 1905, is a small quarto of 257 vellum
leaves in an eighteenth century binding
of red morocco. There is no known du-
plicate OF this antique and deliberately
decorated manuscript. The few vellum
volumes OF the thirteenth century that
have been preserved are for the most
part IN the possession of great public
libraries in Europe This Niihof Psal-
ter. too. viii doubtless be lost perma-
nently to the world of barter when once
When this Psalter was finished by
monks in the south of France about the
middle of the thirteenth century. art
and literature, conserved through tbs
Dark Ages in monastic establishments,
were crude in development and feeble in
execution.
The monks could make letters like
copper plate and lay on coIors and gold
leaf by processes unknown to later gen.
erations. But their knowledge was mar
rowly limited. their mental processes
fantastic their imaginings childish AMI
trivial Convincing evidence of this is
the 116 full-page Observation-Disclosures
ing fully both Old and New Testament
which adorn the Psalter. These pictures
present a unique and interesting record
OF medieval faith and superstition,
while costumes. headdress. armor and all
mirror accurately the spirit of the time
OF more perfect execution and higher
artistic value than the Psalter manu-
script is the "Bfblia Sacra" of Mr. Nil
hoff's collection. This is a large folio
In double columns. with broad margins
and ample annotations and commentary
by Nicholai de Lyra, a monk who -four
ished in Italy early in the fifteenth cen
fury The writing is in red and black,
with hundreds Of initials in colors and
gold, elaborate floral borders and a Sc
ries of beautifully executed miniatures
illustrating de Lyra's commentaries.
The parchment throughout is stainless
and as pure in color as when pious hands
first gave it form and religious vitality.
Connoisseurs in book lore generally
agree that this volume, a duplicate of
which is said TO be ii. the Vatican Lii
brary. is the finest and most beautiful
copy of the Bible known to the world
of literature
In the exhibition at Lindsay's are also
an illuminated Flemish missai of he
htteenth century; ''Liber Hymnorum'
OF the Italian school, with miniatures
equal to those of the "Biblia Saera,"
and gem manuscript Heroes de Notre
Dame with four front pieces and over
200 borders designed with marvellous
skill This little volume. it is said. was
an heirloom for royal princesses, and was
once used by the luckIess Mary Queen
OF Scots.
Besides these priceless manuscripts,
the Nijhoff collection contains many
unique specimens of early printing-an-
cient classics. including Torquato Tas-
SOS own copy of Horace. Peter the
Greats Book OF Emblems," book on
astronomy printed In Venice In 1859 in
three colors-the first example of this
kind OF work; first edition by Jehan
Petit paris, 1881, of 'Lancelot du Lac
and, rarest and most interesting of all.
an annotated Psalter in Hebrew, Greek.
Arabic. and Chaldaic, printed at Venice
In 1916, in which appears the first known
published reference TO Christopher CO.
lumbus. who died ten years previously.