06 Mar 08

Detail from a Latin bible, one of the texts on display.

To mark World Book Day the Bodleian Library is holding a one-day display featuring the Creation as recorded in three spectacular and historic manuscripts of the sacred books of Judaism, Christianity and Islam - The Torah, the Bible and the Qur’an.

Literacy and religion have been closely associated in ancient and modern times, and over centuries manuscripts have played a vital role in preserving and transmitting sacred texts. The importance and respect accorded to these texts in Judaism, Christianity and Islam is shown in the way they were reverently copied and by the brilliance of their illumination and calligraphy, in the quality of parchment or paper on which they were written, and in their bindings. These texts were designed to be studied and read aloud to an audience of the faithful.

Judaism: The Kennicott Bible, of which the first page of the book of Genesis is displayed, is one of the treasures of the Bodleian Library. It was a chance acquisition, named after Benjamin Kennicott, biblical scholar and Radcliffe Librarian. In 1771, when it was brought into the Library by a young man, Kennicott recognised its importance and purchased it for 50 guineas.

Christianity: This manuscript is the first volume (covering Genesis to Job) of a three-volume moralised Latin Bible produced in France (probably Paris) in the second quarter of the 13th century. It was given to the Library by Sir Christopher Heydon in 1604; the other two volumes of the set are now in Paris and London.

Islam: This Qur’an is one of over 2,000 manuscripts purchased in Venice in 1817 by the Bodleian Library from the collection of the Jesuit Matteo Luigi Canonici (1727- ca1806). It was copied, probably in Cairo, in the year 766 of the Islamic era, which corresponds to 1364-5 AD.

Lesley Forbes, Keeper of Oriental Collections, Bodleian Library said: ‘World book day has become a tradition at the Bodleian Library over the last few years. We are glad to have another opportunity to open our treasures to the public every year.'

Special lunchtime talks will take place on the day between 13.15-13.45 in the Convocation House (entrance through the Divinity School). Guest speakers are Dr Norman Solomon, Professor Alister McGrath, and Professor Yahya Michot.

The display will be held on 6 March 2008 in the Divinity School, Bodleian Library. Opening hours: 10.00-17.00. Admission free.