In medieval manuscripts, every illustrated picture tells astory.
The informal book club Baton Rouge Bibliophiles gets a sneakpeek into medieval life by viewing facsimiles, accurate copies ofthe original books, “wormholes, ripped pages, smudges on thevellum” and all, said Faye Phillips, associate dean of librariesfor special collections.
The brainchild of University history professor David Culbert andhis wife Lubna, the Bibliophiles have met three times since theclub began a year and a half ago at the Hill Memorial Library forhands-on book viewing.
Lubna Culbert said she and her husband belong to the Fellowshipof American Bibliophiles, and they decided to start the Louisianachapter after visiting world-renowned libraries, such as thelibraries at Huntington College, the University of California atLos Angeles and Clairmont College, and viewing rare books.
“We want to introduce the community to treasures,” Culbert said.They also ask speakers to discuss topics relevant to the books ondisplay.
Culbert also said if someone in the community has a rare book,they could donate it to the library for others to appreciateit.
“Book art is a form of art,” Culbert said. “It is anintellectual pleasure as well as for our senses.”
Culbert said original manuscripts are valued from $25,000 to$30,000, but facsimiles range from $4,000 to $6,000 because moderntechnology allows companies to produce these books moreaccurately.
At Wednesday’s book viewing, Phillips displayed facsimiles ofmedieval books including the “Muley Zydan Koran,” a copy of a16th-century Koran text and a full-color facsimile of “GreatDomesday,” a public records book from Great Britain compiled in the11th century.
The true gem of the texts was the “Book of Hours,” an authentic15th century prayer book made for a French noblewoman. Wearingwhite gloves to gingerly turn the intricate pages of watercolor andgold leaf, Phillips said the McIlhenney family of the McIlhenneyTabasco Corporation donated the book to the LSU Libraries markingthe acquisition of the two millionth volume.
Phillips said she works with the University’s Medieval andRenaissance Studies Project, an interdisciplinary study programthat assists libraries in acquiring manuscripts for students, toacquire rare books.
Phillips said the University also has a book arts program, andthere is a studio available for bookmaking.
Phillips stressed that though the books are older, they arestill important.
“There is a need for them,” Phillips said. “Both classes andscholars use these.”