COPTIC BIBLICAL CODEX

Undated, possibly late 19th Century or early 20th Century (based on its condition and an inserted note, see below).  Handwritten in Ge’ez. Imperial octavo, 200 x 262 x 52 mm., paginated in Ge’ez, [7] 168 [6] pp. Handmade full brown leather binding over thick wooden boards, with multiple blindstamped decorative borders and cross to front and rear. All vellum pages. The script is in black and red, the red being reserved for the name of God and the Saints. Written in double columns of 22 lines. Illustrated with four original paintings in colour. Signed handwritten note in pen on 108 x 172mm lined paper inserted loose within, in what appears to be Ge’ez. The codex was originally acquired by a German missionary couple in Ethiopia in the 1960’s and 70’s, who spent time in the Coptic communities.

The Ge’ez language is one of the Semitic languages spoken in Ethiopia in the past; and probably originated from two sources: the Sabaean language which originated in Southern Yemen  a few centuries B.C., and represents an old Arabic Semitic language spoken by the famous biblical Queen of Sheba. It was also known as Himyarite; the second source was from Egypt during the Hyksos rule. The Hyksos were Semitic tribes that invaded old Egypt and ruled for 400 years. When they were expelled out of Egypt they fled to Nuba, Ethiopia, and Canaan. The Christian Kingdom of Aksum (old Ethiopia) had occupied Yemen in the early centuries A.D. The Ge’ez language is a combination of the two; the Semitic and the old Ethiopian languages. It vanished with time and nowadays is only used in biblical and Christian Orthodox schools in old Ethiopia. The first translation of the Bible into Ge’ez was from the Greek in the 5th century. 

Condition: Exceptional. The stretch pinholes and natural holes in the goatskin leaves are contemporary. The binding is in very good condition. The paintings are bright and fresh.