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Chapter 4 - Scribes and Scriptoria

from Part I - Book Production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2018

Erik Kwakkel
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Rodney Thomson
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania
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Summary

In this period most books were legibly, even beautifully, written. Monastic scribes were highly trained; in larger houses there was often a master-scribe who trained younger monks. In such cases there could emerge a 'house style' which can be diagnostic in assigning surviving books a place of origin. Scribes were usually anonymous but nevertheless their work was valued and they enjoyed high social status. Later in the century we see the emergence of a commercial book-trade in major towns such as Paris. With the emergence of the universities, books had to be made more quickly and cheaply. Nonetheless, luxury books could be, and were, made to order, for wealthy individuals and institutions.
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2018

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