VULGATE BIBLE
(CALLED THE “GWYSANEY BIBLE”)

The Vulgate Bible displayed here, a thirteenth-century “pocket” Bible known as the Gwysaney Bible, is one of the stars of the University of Houston’s manuscript collection. Its decorated and historiated initials are extremely fine in their drawing and in their coloration. It is also an excellent example of the changes in Bible production that took place in the thirteenth century.

Unfortunately, it shows, too, the fragility of manuscripts of its age. Most critically, its binding is disintegrating, so that the volume is falling into pieces. For this reason, the “Gwysaney” Bible is one of the very few in the University’s Special Collections that is not available for private study.

Printable version