A few days ago when visiting Mysterium*, I found this treasure: the Diamond Sutra, a Chinese Buddhist scroll printed in 868 that is the world’s oldest, dated, printed book…. yes oldest! It is featured in the British Library’s website Turning the Pages.

This is a gorgeous site showcasing many precious old manuscripts like Leonardo’s Notebook, some medieval illuminated manuscripts like the beautiful Luttrell Psalter, and my favourite of these, Sforza Hours, a Renaissance masterpiece. All handmade, written and illustrated books or scrolls that are precious works of art… highly recommended viewing!

Admiring all these gorgeous old manuscripts sent me searching in my bookshelves for my own treasure, though only a reproduction, but a good one: The Tres Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry, the 1969 edition, like this one. Here are some pictures from it, as well as some of the story behind it, and still more images at The Web Gallery of Art.

* sadly, Mysterium no longer exists…link is removed