Ge'ez - Manuscript - Miseso - Handwritten illuminated Coptic Bible - 1950

Handmade Ethiopian Coptic study bible, ‘Miseso’ in Amharic, with 4 full-page hand-painted icons, bound in an embossed leather binding. The scribe who made this little bible was in fact a priest.

It is written in the Ethiopic Ge'ez script, a Semitic language that is no longer spoken, but is still used for liturgical and other religious purposes by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The subjects of these Bibles are always Christian. The actual content may vary. Dating Ethiopian manuscripts is very difficult, as scribes copied old monastic manuscripts using the same materials as had been used for centuries, and have been as old as the 14th century;

This Miseso has text and icons on original vellum, animal skin pages. The text is written in red/black, as shown in the pictures, the red indicating sacred words spoken by the saviour. The full-page detailed colour icons depict intricate and detailed Biblical scenes. The small-sized handwritten bible is bound in hand-bound leather boards. The leather is in good condition, as shown, and the stamped designs are still visible. The Prayer Book is a rare find. The highlight is the gorgeous hand-painted icons in vivid colour and detail, as shown.