#Illuminated manuscripts for sale professional#

Jörn Günther Rare Books has some lavishly illuminated medieval manuscript leaves for sale that include works by Simon Bening, Jean Bourdichon, or the Mazarine Master. These leaves usually display particularly beautiful illumination. Many collectors start their own collections by focusing on so-called miniatures, which are single leaves from illuminated manuscripts that have survived the centuries. Jörn Günther Rare Books include manuscripts that once belonged to European royalty and nobility. At the time of their creation, these incredibly precious books were not only devotional items, but also luxurious status symbols for their owners. Therefore, all Books of Hours that are still available on the market are unique artworks. They usually included standard Latin prayers, but they could be personalised upon request. These small prayer books were used for spiritual guidance. For instance, the Book of Hours is a particularly popular collector’s item. Most collectors of medieval and Renaissance books collect specific categories of books.

He has worked with the most important museums and libraries across the globe, as well as with private clients who wish to find medieval manuscripts for sale and who seek to develop their collections. Jörn Günther has earned a reputation as one of the most well-known specialists in his field. We offer an excellent selection of museum-quality treasures, and we sell rare books that are not available in any other antiquarian bookshop. Jörn Günther Rare Books AG deals worldwide in manuscripts, miniatures, and early printed books from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

#Illuminated manuscripts for sale professional#

Those who are seeking to buy illuminated manuscripts, those who are searching for individual illuminated manuscript pages for sale, or those who are just starting their own collections often seek professional advice to help them navigate the art market. Often, they are the only works that are still available on the market for certain artists. Although these small treasures are extremely precious and increasingly rare, one can still find medieval illuminated manuscripts for sale. In fact, the works of some of the most prestigious artists of the Middle Ages survived only on the pages of books, while some of their other works could not be preserved. Many medieval books were lavishly illuminated by the best artists of their time. These results are a reflection of the unrivalled service offered by Christie’s as market leader in the field and as the only international auction house with a dedicated team of illuminated manuscript specialists.Medieval illumination is a fascinating topic for both scholars and art collectors. The first edition of the complete works of Plato, printed by the nuns of San Jacopo di Ripoli from 1484-1485, achieved a world record-breaking price for any book by Plato and for any book chiefly printed by women (USD$1,026,000).

The entire sale saw exceptional results and sell-through rates (98%) with the top lot, the splendid Hours by the Master of the Paris Bartholomeus Anglicus (USD$3,63,000) joining the select handful of manuscripts that have fetched over a million dollars in the past 50 years. The Rosenberg collections of illuminated manuscripts and of early printed books were both the highest totals achieved at auction in these categories in decades. It has been a privilege and a delight to have been able to work with the illuminated manuscripts and early printed books from this collection, and it shows once again how strong the market is for items of impeccable provenance, condition and quality. This edition was translated by Marsilio Ficino, one of the greatest scholars of Greek in the Renaissance and printed in Florence by the nuns of San Jacopo di Ripoli.Įugenio Donadoni, Senior Specialist, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts, London, comments, “This was a once-in-a-generation auction, and an emphatic endorsement of the exquisite taste and discerning eye of Alexandre and Elaine Rosenberg. The second top lot of the collection a complete first edition of the works of Plato which set a world auction record any work by Plato and totaled $1,026,000, above the estimate of $200,000-400,000. Leading the collection was a masterpiece of book painting, the illuminated example of the work of the Master of the Paris Bartholomeus Anglicus, a Parisian Book of Hours, circa 1440 which achieved $3,630,000, exceeding its estimate of $1,500,000-2,500,000.