{"product_id":"antique-ethiopian-manuscript-on-parchment-geʽez-liturgical-prayer-book-c-1700","title":"Antique Ethiopian Manuscript on Parchment , Geʽez Liturgical Prayer Book, C.1700","description":"\u003ch2 data-start=\"431\" data-end=\"532\"\u003e\u003cfont style=\"font-weight: normal;\" size=\"4\"\u003e\u003cspan data-start=\"534\" data-end=\"589\" style=\"\"\u003eAuthentic Ethiopian Orthodox illuminated manuscript\u003c\/span\u003e, handwritten on parchment in \u003cspan data-start=\"619\" data-end=\"628\" style=\"\"\u003eGeʽez\u003c\/span\u003e, the classical sacred language of Ethiopia. This is a \u003cspan data-start=\"683\" data-end=\"727\" style=\"\"\u003eportable devotional prayer book (Meʽraf)\u003c\/span\u003e, produced for personal use by Ethiopian Orthodox clergy or monks.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"795\" data-end=\"1038\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eThis manuscript retains its \u003cspan data-start=\"823\" data-end=\"856\"\u003eoriginal wooden-board binding\u003c\/span\u003e with traditional Ethiopian \u003cspan data-start=\"884\" data-end=\"903\"\u003echain stitching\u003c\/span\u003e in plant fibre and includes \u003cspan data-start=\"932\" data-end=\"969\"\u003ehand-coloured miniatures of saints\u003c\/span\u003e. A genuine survivor of centuries-old African Christian book culture.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1619\" data-end=\"1919\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eThe text is written in a practiced ecclesiastical hand, with red ink used for headings, invocations, and liturgical cues. The manuscript shows \u003cspan data-start=\"1762\" data-end=\"1790\"\u003eexpected devotional wear\u003c\/span\u003e, including surface darkening, minor holes, and later devotional drawings—evidence of long-term religious use rather than damage.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"1926\" data-end=\"1953\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\" style=\"\"\u003eArtwork \u0026amp; Miniatures:\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1955\" data-end=\"2237\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"1955\" data-end=\"2055\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1957\" data-end=\"2055\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003ePainted wooden cover panel depicting \u003cspan data-start=\"1994\" data-end=\"2026\"\u003ethree haloed, bearded saints\u003c\/span\u003e in frontal devotional pose\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"2056\" data-end=\"2106\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2058\" data-end=\"2106\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eInterior decorative headpieces and rubrication\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"2107\" data-end=\"2237\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2109\" data-end=\"2237\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eOne interior page with a later devotional sketch by a historical owner (a common and authentic feature in Ethiopian manuscripts)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2239\" data-end=\"2335\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eThese images are devotional in nature and intended to bless and protect the book and its reader.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"2342\" data-end=\"2378\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\" style=\"\"\u003eWhat This Book Is:\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2380\" data-end=\"2523\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003e\u003cspan data-start=\"2382\" data-end=\"2446\"\u003eAuthentic Ethiopian Orthodox liturgical prayer book (Meʽraf)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2446\" data-end=\"2449\"\u003e Handwritten manuscript, not printed\u003cbr data-start=\"2486\" data-end=\"2489\"\u003e Original binding and structure\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"2625\" data-end=\"2674\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eHistory of Ethiopian Manuscript Production\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2676\" data-end=\"2976\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eEthiopia possesses one of the \u003cspan data-start=\"2706\" data-end=\"2772\"\u003eoldest continuous manuscript traditions in the Christian world\u003c\/span\u003e, dating back to Late Antiquity. Long after printing transformed Europe, Ethiopian religious texts continued to be \u003cspan data-start=\"2887\" data-end=\"2933\"\u003ecopied by hand in monasteries and churches\u003c\/span\u003e, preserving ancient techniques and styles.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2978\" data-end=\"3031\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eKey features of Ethiopia\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003en manuscript culture include:\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul data-start=\"3032\" data-end=\"3326\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003eWriting on parchment rather than paper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3075\" data-end=\"3120\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3077\" data-end=\"3120\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eWooden-board bindings with exposed sewing\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3121\" data-end=\"3195\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3123\" data-end=\"3195\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eUse of \u003cspan data-start=\"3130\" data-end=\"3139\"\u003eGeʽez\u003c\/span\u003e, a sacred language reserved for liturgy and scripture\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3196\" data-end=\"3253\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3198\" data-end=\"3253\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eRed and black inks to structure prayer and recitation\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3254\" data-end=\"3326\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3256\" data-end=\"3326\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eManuscripts created as \u003cspan data-start=\"3279\" data-end=\"3299\"\u003eacts of devotion\u003c\/span\u003e, not commercial products\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3328\" data-end=\"3580\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003ePortable prayer books like this one were essential tools for monks and priests, carried daily and used repeatedly—hence the visible wear that confirms authenticity. Each manuscript is \u003cspan data-start=\"3512\" data-end=\"3522\"\u003eunique\u003c\/span\u003e, even when the text follows established liturgical forms.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3582\" data-end=\"3797\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eMany Ethiopian manuscripts entered European and American collections during the 19th and early 20th centuries through missionaries, scholars, and travellers, making surviving examples increasingly sought after today.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp data-start=\"3582\" data-end=\"3797\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp data-start=\"3582\" data-end=\"3797\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eWeight - 240g\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp data-start=\"3582\" data-end=\"3797\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eHeight - 12.8cm\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp data-start=\"3582\" data-end=\"3797\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eWidth - 7.5cm\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp data-start=\"3582\" data-end=\"3797\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eThickness - 4.2cm\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Momo Rare Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52775237648723,"sku":null,"price":1500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0953\/9187\/5411\/files\/57_a39fc961-695c-4cab-9844-e10e869063ae.jpg?v=1768306286","url":"https:\/\/www.momorarebooks.co.uk\/products\/antique-ethiopian-manuscript-on-parchment-ge%ca%bdez-liturgical-prayer-book-c-1700","provider":"Momo Rare Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}