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British Library to buy oldest original-bound book from Jesuits

07 September 2011
"Durham Cathedral was not given an opportunity to buy the St Cuthbert Gospel, which is regarded by Durham Cathedral as a sacred relic. The Jesuits, who have owned the manuscript for nearly 250 years, are instead selling it to the British Library (BL) for £9m. Dating from the 7th century, it was discovered in the saint's coffin in the cathedral and is the world's oldest surviving book in its original binding."

“Durham Cathedral was not given an opportunity to buy the St Cuthbert Gospel, which is regarded by Durham Cathedral as a sacred relic. The Jesuits, who have owned the manuscript for nearly 250 years, are instead selling it to the British Library (BL) for £9m. Dating from the 7th century, it was discovered in the saint’s coffin in the cathedral and is the world’s oldest surviving book in its original binding.”


Read the whole article in The Art Newspaper


>>> British Library to buy oldest original-bound book from Jesuits. By Martin Bailey