AN ancient manuscript from Egypt, believed to be among the oldest surviving books globally, will go under the hammer in London this June, announced Christie’s auction house.
‘The Crosby-Schoyen Codex stands as a remarkable testament to the transition from scroll to codex form, encapsulating the earliest texts of two biblical books,’ remarked Eugenio Donadoni, Senior Specialist in Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts at Christie’s.
‘It’s right at that period, that transitional period, when papyrus scroll starts turning into codex form… So, books as we know them today,’ Donadoni told Reuters.
Crafted in Coptic on papyrus between 250-350 AD, the codex originates from one of the earliest Christian monasteries. It includes 104 pages (52 leaves), meticulously penned by a single scribe over 40 years and now encased behind plexiglass. Among its contents are the first epistle of Peter and the Book of Jonah.
‘This codex’s remarkable preservation owes much to Egypt’s arid climate,’ Donadoni added, noting the rarity of surviving books from the 3rd and 4th centuries.
Discovered in Egypt in the 1950s, the codex was initially housed at the University of Mississippi until 1981. Acquired by Norwegian collector Dr. Martin Schoyen in 1988, it now forms part of the prestigious Schoyen Collection, one of the world’s largest private manuscript collections.
The Crosby-Schoyen Codex is currently on display at Christie’s New York until April 9 before heading to London for the auction on June 11, offering enthusiasts and collectors a unique chance to acquire a piece of early Christian history.