I love the illuminated documents. My daughters were pupils at Chethams in Manchester and I was able to visit the ancient library and see the chained books. Thank you to both of you for such a knowledgeable short talk. Regards J C
For me it was the penultimate one - the antiphony. The paint materials used by the illluminators are very similar to those found in middle Easter manuscripts and the vivid blue is lapis from Afghanistan (near Herat). Thank you both for this - it was really rather special.
@ If you’re in the UK, go and finagle your way into a cathedral library or local record office. I’ve seen plenty. I also did a course on them at University
@ i’m sure you’re right though I sadly live very far away from the UK and I’ve only been there once for a rather short amount of time nonetheless I very much adore the country for its deep connection to tradition heritage and artistry I do not think there is any country where I would prefer to live if I had the choice
You and everybody else! As we have known all along Mr. Ayling has the most excellent taste. What a lucky lad! How lucky we are that they share these bits of their lives and passions with us. jls
My favourite by far was the framed picture of St Margaret of Antioc. Thank you for also mentioning the historical/ mythical, if you like magical aspect of the lady in question.
I don't know how I should feel about binder's waste. It's almost unfathomable to me that people used manuscripts that were already hundreds of years old to bind their (at the time) relatively new books in. On the other hand some of those old manuscripts only survived because they were used to bind newer books and it's quite neat to find something that's maybe 700 or 800 years old in the binding of a something that's only 200 or 250 years old. Definitely happened to me before, although I'm no expert in incunables or manuscripts so I can't accurately date that stuff (and when I tried to play a few of those square notes they didn't even really sound coherent). So yeah, again... I don't know how I should feel about binder's waste.
How enjoyable and informative. Thank you Tom and Selina. I love the details. I would love to hear the music/chant with the manuscripts. Keep up the good work.
You could have explained why numbers 3 and 4 were so large. So that many monks could all read from the same large plainsong hymn book. I think that the third one could be the Magnificat. It would be great to see them close enough to read. I would love to own the fourth. Thank you for bringing these treasures to our attention.
Far too difficult a choice...so I decline with thanks!...a delightful insight to your business.. thank you...Sienna has proved an ideal Assistant in your endeavours...dgp
As lovely as the big illuminated manuscripts are, I just love small scraps of paper that used to be kicking around in a person‘s pocket for a while. Not meant to be anything too special, like a calendar, but full of meaning and history.
I enjoy and appreciate your programs for their entertainment - such interesting objects and for the educational aspect - I am learning a lot! Thank you. Terry
What a delightful and informative video! You always lift our spirits with a few moments of loveliness whether it be arranging your shop or an illuminated medieval manuscript. Thank-you so much for these blessings of beauty. jls US Pacific Northwest.
Question, how was something like the last leaf bound in a book without obscuring the illuminations? Has it been cut out of a book, would there have been a wider left margin?
The illuminations would have been obscured except when the book is open to that page. The original books likely contained other highly decorated pages as well. What you are seeing is only one half of a bifolium: 2 pages (front and back, making one leaf), which in turn was stacked and sewn into a unit called a quire, which in turn were gathered together to form a complete book with a binding. It became customary for booksellers to 'dismember' manuscripts for commercial reasons: it is easier to sell many leaves to different customers, for a higher total price, than to sell whole books. It is easier to put such a thing in a frame and mount it on the wall, but a leather-bound book will only sit on a shelf and will be admired only when opened. Unfortunately, once they are removed from the book from which they formed an integral part, the scholarly and historical value is much less, and it can become difficult to ascertain precise information about the manuscripts, other than speaking in the broadest terms.
i find the content of your channel very interesting because i've always loved old books but the prices of the stuff you sell seem so high end retail that it makes my eyes glaze over in amazement at the mark-ups that you must be making on what you sell... the other day i found a first edition copy with fine dust jacket of graham green's the third man for the princely sum of fifty pence in a charity shop... now that's my idea of savvy book buying... the people who buy from you must i reckon either be filthy rich with the deepest of deep pockets or else bibliophiles of the nerdiest and most addicted kind... certainly to a poor commoner at the bottom end of the market like me anyway... or am i missing something somewhere somehow?
May I ask? Do you sell more through your website or more through your customer list via your reaching out to prospective collectors? How much of a concern are sites like eBay and Abe?
Even Tiffany's repurposed things not sold. You have to make money as a printer and paper (in any substrate form) is expensive. This practice is done today and is called "make ready." Please correct me.
I only have one book that I think could maybe possibly be somewhat valuable one day. Not because it's old, beautiful, popular, or rare. In fact, it's none of those things. But, as far as I know, the first edition of Christopher Paolini's "Fractal Noise" is the first published book to feature AI art on the cover. And I think that's kind of interesting.
I am determined to one day secure something similar for my private collection. Question: What is the rationale behind handling these old texts without gloves? As a layperson, I would be afraid of inadvertently damaging them, but I have noticed actual experts never wear gloves.
This is actually a common misconception that old books should be handled with gloves. Clean dry hands are better since you can actually feel the paper better while gloves make you lose the sense of touch so it's easier to damage a book or paper i.e rip it or drop it. I guess there are some cases where it's better to wear gloves, maybe to protect the person handling the book from harmful materials.
Mick, when can we expect some new Simply Red music ? I appreciate this book hobby or yours is time consuming, but you're ignoring your real fans that have been with you for years. Ps. Is that woman one of the backing singers ?
@debrascott8775 Yes you are allowed to get offended. That is your right. Also my right to say they both are great looking individuals. Nothing wrong with a good old fashioned compliment. But, as I am one who finds their gaze more drawn to the female side I say WHEW WHAT A BEUT!!! SHE IS STUNNING ISN'T SHE??!! Ahahahaha! I love freedom of speech. (Join us)
I also wondered. I thought everyone had to wear white cotton gloves to handle very old things. I was told it was because of the oils from our skin discolouring the pieces.
It’s such a pity that all those undoubtedly utmost beautiful pieces of craftsmanship all have this nasty religious background it makes it really difficult to appreciate their beauty the way one would wish to
@ it is really quite a pity that so many people are still fighting in favour of a fascist system that has already cost so many lies destroyed so many beings over the course of history
@ it says that religious insanity and therefore effectively fascism is terribly deeply rooted into human history like a long lasting and dangerous germ
I'm shocked that the leaf is touched without a glove. I believe any old book or manuscript should be handled with gloves. Big libraries that have thousands of old books and manuscripts require the use of gloves to touch and turn them.
Here we go again, yet another ignorant judgemental idiot casting aspersions without first doing a very quick simple Google research before telling the rest of the world they're actually just ignorant trolls
I love the illuminated documents. My daughters were pupils at Chethams in Manchester and I was able to visit the ancient library and see the chained books. Thank you to both of you for such a knowledgeable short talk. Regards J C
For me it was the penultimate one - the antiphony. The paint materials used by the illluminators are very similar to those found in middle Easter manuscripts and the vivid blue is lapis from Afghanistan (near Herat).
Thank you both for this - it was really rather special.
This single video has made me love Siena. As a fellow medieval manuscript enthusiast, you can tell she loves it!
Oh, I would love to call myself that too, but with many things I love and adore I’ve never been close to one
@ If you’re in the UK, go and finagle your way into a cathedral library or local record office. I’ve seen plenty. I also did a course on them at University
@ i’m sure you’re right though I sadly live very far away from the UK and I’ve only been there once for a rather short amount of time nonetheless I very much adore the country for its deep connection to tradition heritage and artistry I do not think there is any country where I would prefer to live if I had the choice
You and everybody else! As we have known all along Mr. Ayling has the most excellent taste. What a lucky lad! How lucky we are that they share these bits of their lives and passions with us. jls
Thank you for providing such an intriguing insight into the past.
My favourite by far was the framed picture of St Margaret of Antioc. Thank you for also mentioning the historical/ mythical, if you like magical aspect of the lady in question.
I agree.
All equally lovely and fascinating !!!thanks !!!!🙂🙂🙂
A video idea... The difference between conservation & restoration. When should each be used & how do they affect the value of a book?
I don't know how I should feel about binder's waste. It's almost unfathomable to me that people used manuscripts that were already hundreds of years old to bind their (at the time) relatively new books in. On the other hand some of those old manuscripts only survived because they were used to bind newer books and it's quite neat to find something that's maybe 700 or 800 years old in the binding of a something that's only 200 or 250 years old. Definitely happened to me before, although I'm no expert in incunables or manuscripts so I can't accurately date that stuff (and when I tried to play a few of those square notes they didn't even really sound coherent). So yeah, again... I don't know how I should feel about binder's waste.
How enjoyable and informative. Thank you Tom and Selina. I love the details. I would love to hear the music/chant with the manuscripts. Keep up the good work.
Pre printing press books have to be my favorite. So much work went into each book that they were treasured and seen as there own works of art.
You could have explained why numbers 3 and 4 were so large.
So that many monks could all read from the same large plainsong hymn book.
I think that the third one could be the Magnificat. It would be great to see them close enough to read.
I would love to own the fourth.
Thank you for bringing these treasures to our attention.
Far too difficult a choice...so I decline with thanks!...a delightful insight to your business.. thank you...Sienna has proved an ideal Assistant in your endeavours...dgp
They were extraordinary in their own right ❤❤ Thank you ❤🇺🇸
As lovely as the big illuminated manuscripts are, I just love small scraps of paper that used to be kicking around in a person‘s pocket for a while. Not meant to be anything too special, like a calendar, but full of meaning and history.
I enjoy and appreciate your programs for their entertainment - such interesting objects and for the educational aspect - I am learning a lot! Thank you. Terry
The two ones that had musical notes written on them those were absolutely fascinating and gorgeous
I am interested in how you would display these lovely leafs
Now I know why I feel quite happy to write my notes in the middle of my notebook pages, I was meant to be very rich and from the Middle Ages.
I like the tiny page and the vellum bound book.
I love them all. Thanks Robin
Excellent as always 😊
Where do you find these gems? Amazing!
I love the little St. Margaret portrait.
Another Great video!
My favourite would have to be the Roman poet
The smallest, captured my heart, if only I could afford it!
That calender leaf reminds me of Continental Currency notes
What a delightful and informative video! You always lift our spirits with a few moments of loveliness whether it be arranging your shop or an illuminated medieval manuscript. Thank-you so much for these blessings of beauty. jls US Pacific Northwest.
Love the channel - once I sell something’s I
Own will buy
Question, how was something like the last leaf bound in a book without obscuring the illuminations? Has it been cut out of a book, would there have been a wider left margin?
Its a whole thing that can't be explained as an answer to one question. Do a deep dive on the history of bookbinding. Pretty fasc.
The illuminations would have been obscured except when the book is open to that page. The original books likely contained other highly decorated pages as well.
What you are seeing is only one half of a bifolium: 2 pages (front and back, making one leaf), which in turn was stacked and sewn into a unit called a quire, which in turn were gathered together to form a complete book with a binding. It became customary for booksellers to 'dismember' manuscripts for commercial reasons: it is easier to sell many leaves to different customers, for a higher total price, than to sell whole books. It is easier to put such a thing in a frame and mount it on the wall, but a leather-bound book will only sit on a shelf and will be admired only when opened.
Unfortunately, once they are removed from the book from which they formed an integral part, the scholarly and historical value is much less, and it can become difficult to ascertain precise information about the manuscripts, other than speaking in the broadest terms.
i find the content
of your channel
very interesting
because i've
always loved old
books but the
prices of the stuff
you sell seem
so high end retail
that it makes
my eyes glaze
over in amazement
at the mark-ups
that you must
be making
on what you sell...
the other day
i found a first
edition copy with
fine dust jacket
of graham green's
the third man
for the princely
sum of fifty pence
in a charity shop...
now that's
my idea of savvy
book buying...
the people who
buy from you
must i reckon
either be
filthy rich with the
deepest of deep
pockets or else
bibliophiles of
the nerdiest
and most
addicted kind...
certainly to a
poor commoner
at the bottom end
of the market
like me anyway...
or am i missing
something
somewhere
somehow?
May I ask? Do you sell more through your website or more through your customer list via your reaching out to prospective collectors?
How much of a concern are sites like eBay and Abe?
But how much would the last page fetch with out the "corrections?"
Even Tiffany's repurposed things not sold. You have to make money as a printer and paper (in any substrate form) is expensive. This practice is done today and is called "make ready." Please correct me.
Pretty cool!
Are illuminations and illustrations different or is an accent thing?
I'd love to know what those old hymns are and do they still exist in modern hymns or carols.
Anyone into videogames and medieval manuscripts.... Try "Pentiment"
Two experts showing their love for the items. Illumination v illustration? A religious distinction?
That was wonderful! I only wish your pans were a bit slower.
Don't touch the top right corner of the page... Might be poisoned.... ☺
I only have one book that I think could maybe possibly be somewhat valuable one day. Not because it's old, beautiful, popular, or rare. In fact, it's none of those things. But, as far as I know, the first edition of Christopher Paolini's "Fractal Noise" is the first published book to feature AI art on the cover. And I think that's kind of interesting.
Dream on
Can music sheets have value?
Yes, they can. Some none, some a lot, if they're rare
Saved the best for last
You missed the subtitle where it said "book of ours" instead of "Book of Hours."
Do you believe AI will answer you?
@@s.p.8803I believe Tom cares about the quality of his output.
👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
I am determined to one day secure something similar for my private collection.
Question: What is the rationale behind handling these old texts without gloves? As a layperson, I would be afraid of inadvertently damaging them, but I have noticed actual experts never wear gloves.
This is actually a common misconception that old books should be handled with gloves. Clean dry hands are better since you can actually feel the paper better while gloves make you lose the sense of touch so it's easier to damage a book or paper i.e rip it or drop it. I guess there are some cases where it's better to wear gloves, maybe to protect the person handling the book from harmful materials.
@@wronek5573the oils from one’s fingers can actually be helpful to old books and papers. It is not a given that gloves should always be worn. 👍
Neat
🤔👍👍
Mick, when can we expect some new Simply Red music ?
I appreciate this book hobby or yours is time consuming, but you're ignoring your real fans that have been with you for years.
Ps. Is that woman one of the backing singers ?
Uuu
Siena is absolutely gorgeous, sorry I have to mention this :)
I concur.
Why? Do you comment on how men look? If not, then don't. Join us in 2024.
@debrascott8775 Yes you are allowed to get offended. That is your right. Also my right to say they both are great looking individuals. Nothing wrong with a good old fashioned compliment. But, as I am one who finds their gaze more drawn to the female side I say WHEW WHAT A BEUT!!! SHE IS STUNNING ISN'T SHE??!! Ahahahaha! I love freedom of speech. (Join us)
@@tevaalcindor I couldn't even pay attention to the substance of the video honestly.
@@Jeb11111 What video? 😅
No gloves?
Not recommended when handling old books, no. It's an old myth.
No. Its no longer considered best practice.
@@s.p.8803
I have hyperhidrosis, so I must wear gloves. I forget that most people are normal
I also wondered. I thought everyone had to wear white cotton gloves to handle very old things. I was told it was because of the oils from our skin discolouring the pieces.
Lord above, if I see one more person whinge about the gloves, just google it first for goodness sake!
You should use gloves.
No! Never with old books. Old myth long gone
@@s.p.8803 It's not a myth. The hands may be dirt, moist and greasy.
@@trufasdecinema You have to wash your hands before. But gloves are absolutely not recommended. Much more damageable than bare hands.
I know you're quite busy but you could have cleaned the glass on the St. Margaret picture.
It’s such a pity that all those undoubtedly utmost beautiful pieces of craftsmanship all have this nasty religious background it makes it really difficult to appreciate their beauty the way one would wish to
Its such a pity there are such single minded judgemental people like you forcing your selfish self centred views on the rest of us
@ it is really quite a pity that so many people are still fighting in favour of a fascist system that has already cost so many lies destroyed so many beings over the course of history
And what does that tell you?
@ it says that religious insanity and therefore effectively fascism is terribly deeply rooted into human history like a long lasting and dangerous germ
The religious background makes them even more beautiful.
I'm shocked that the leaf is touched without a glove. I believe any old book or manuscript should be handled with gloves. Big libraries that have thousands of old books and manuscripts require the use of gloves to touch and turn them.
Actually gloves are not recommended. Tom did a piece on that issue awhile back. ruclips.net/user/shortsN8vX_we0mqI?si=ZMYNjgJisUC4E7TN
I have hyperhydrosis, so I must always use gloves. I forget that normal people have dry fingertips.
@Paulo-1999 Actually, no, great libraries and museums recommend not wearing gloves, nowadays.
Here we go again, yet another ignorant judgemental idiot casting aspersions without first doing a very quick simple Google research before telling the rest of the world they're actually just ignorant trolls