TREASURES IN OUR MIDST

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 3, 4 January 1934, Page 6

TREASURES IN OUR MIDST

Significant of the modern widespread revival of interest in the culture of past generations is the cabled account of the extraordinary attention paid by the public to the famous Codex Sinaiticus purchased from Russia for £100,000. TJiis is now on view in London at the British Museum, and has been attracting large crowds who have contributed substantially towards its purchase. The Codex (which of course is in manuscript) is in a marvellously sound state of preservation, and, apart from the interest due to one of the earliest complete Christian records, it challenges attention by its craftsmanship and by the quality of its construction, enabling it to survive climatic and social vicissitudes during sixteen centuries. New Zealand possesses some fine examples of early manuscripts. Of the thousands who daily visit the Auckland Central Public Library in Welleeley Street not many veer from their set course in and out of reference or reading or lending departments to visit the Grey and iShaw collections housed in their epecial room. Yet this room contains some of the world's most exquisite examples of early MSS. Whilst chiefly. oj& an ecclesiastical nature, these yet include such secular specimens as the loth century 000-page ''Wars of the Jews," by Josephus; The Statutes of England, Edward 111. to Henry IV., written in Norman French on leaves of vellum (a fine example of 15th century work); and also the "Metaphysics" of Aristotle, 13th century, written in semiGothic churaoter on leaves of vellum. The gem of the whole collection is probably the "Vulgata," written ill large miesal characters on vellum,-and perfectly preserved. Originally in four volumes, this has been rebound during the last century, but some of the mountings are said to be the originals restored and regilt. Formerly regarded as a 13th century MS., a searching examination by the late Mr. Henry Shaw disclosed the date A.D. 1419 in each of the original four volumes. Probably it was already in existence and in the care of the Sisters of the Dominican Monastery at Duerstaden,- Brunswick (for whom it was compiled) at the time Fust and Gutenberg were printing their famous Bible at Mentz. v An indescribable freshness and firagrance lingers round these beautiful examples of caligraphy, an impress of the spirit of devoted craftsmanship sustained over a long period by their compilers and writers. New Zealand possesses in the Shaw and Grey collections some of the most priceless ealigraphic specimens in Australia and New Zealand, and these treasures deserve to be better known by Aucklanders sind .visitors to tlic city. —MjH. |