MANUSCRIT. ETHIOPIAN BIBLE. - Lot 235

MANUSCRIT. ETHIOPIAN BIBLE. [NEW TESTAMENT. PASSION OF CHRIST]. Illustrated liturgical manuscript written in Ge'ez. (Ethiopia), (circa 18th century). In-4 (17.5 x 23 cm), (50) ff text on ca. 18-22 lines per page, sewn spine, wooden boards, the first split and sewn to facilitate reading (tarnished edges sometimes lateral perforations without harm to the text rather due to the defect of the skin, some retractions and scratches, soiling stains, perforations ff. 35, some minimal lateral soiling, ff. 54 sewn back in lower margin, an addition in violet ink ff. 52). Rare Ethiopian manuscript of the Passion of Christ. Text written in black ink, rubricated in columns with titles and names of saints in red ink. Set in drypoint. On vellum, written in Ge'ez, the Semitic language of the kingdom of Aksum and the liturgical language of the Ethiopian church. The most significant artifacts of their centuries-old Christian culture are its illuminated texts in one of the world's oldest languages, still used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. A fine copy. Decorated with 6 fine full-page polychrome figures: the Three Marys, a beautiful Crucifixion scene (star shower and bloodshed, dramatizing) with Mary and St. John, the Entombment, the Ascension or Christ the Good Shepherd with angels (Christ in glory, perhaps eschatological), a Virgin and Child surrounded by 2 angels and the Assumption.