English Government Places a Ban on Export of Recently Discovered Historic Manuscript
- by Michael Stillman
The 13th century New Testament manuscript (Department for Culture photo).
The United Kingdom's Department for Culture, Media & Sport has placed a bar on the export of a recently discovered 13th century New Testament. Oddly, the illuminated manuscript on parchment is in French, apparently confiscated during a long-ago war, following the Battle of Poitiers, which took place in 1356. It was part of the Hundred Years' War, a testament to how long the British and French could hold grudges against each other. The fact that they are allies today gives us hope that maybe one day seemingly intractable wars such as those in the Middle East will also be resolved.
This battle took place on French soil when British troops, serving under Prince Edward, the “Black Prince,” took on forces under French King John II, also known as “John the Good.” Black Prince Edward, son and heir apparent of his father, English King Edward III, never made it to the throne as his father outlived him. Seeing an opportunity during the battle, Edward diverted forces under the command of Henry of Lancaster, who besieged the French. They looted the place and it is believed this is the most likely explanation of how this manuscript, signed by none of other than King John II himself, ended up in British hands.
The manuscript includes ownership inscriptions of several English noblemen. Among them is Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, who lived from 1390-1447. He is considered the most important collector of Medieval books and was the son of King Henry IV. The King's father had claimed the title of Duke of Lancaster after it went vacant. That may tie this manuscript to the aforementioned Henry of Lancaster, of the original House of Lancaster. As such, it is possible that this manuscript was used to legitimize the Lancastrians' attempt to claim the throne of France.
There are also inscriptions from a couple of other members of the royal family who lived before the invention of printing. Many inscriptions were erased but some have been deciphered with ultra violet light, and hopefully, more will be learned with newer techniques. An MP and an antiquarian from the 18th century have been determined to be part of its provenance.
Speaking about this remarkable find, Reviewing Committee member Caroline Shenton explained, “This late-thirteenth-century New Testament is of extraordinary importance to our understanding of English Medieval royal culture, politics, and diplomacy during the Hundred Years’ War. Although as the work of the Cholet Master its decoration makes it a very attractive object in its own right, it is its textual interest and staggering provenance which make it a national treasure. The manuscript is previously unknown to scholarship, having been in private hands for over 300 years.” She continued, “I very much hope that an institution will come forward to save this jaw-dropping manuscript which still has so much to tell us about its story and the stories of those who owned it.” Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay added, “I hope that a buyer comes forward to make sure it can continue to be researched and its revelations shared with generations to come.”
The manuscript has been valued at £800,000 (approximately US $1 million). The export bar lasts through February 7, 2024. At the end of this period, the owners can consider any offer for the recommended purchase price of £800,000. After the signing of an option agreement, the bar is then extended for four more months. The Arts and Heritage Minister may also consider offers for under the recommended price. We will have to wait to see what sort of institutional bids this manuscript draws, but considering its age, illumination, and history, I would not be surprised that if sent to auction, it would command a higher price than the one at which it has been valued.
Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Galileo Galilei. Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo tolemaico, e copernicano. Firenze, 1632
Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Saverio Manetti. Storia naturale degli uccelli. Firenze, 1771-76
Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Fortunato Depero. Depero futurista. Rovereto, 1927
Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Nicolas Visscher. Atlas minor sive totius orbis terrarum contracta delineat ex conatibus. Amsterdam, circa 1649-95
Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Andreas Vesalius. Anatomia. Addita nunc. Antiquorum Anatome. Venezia, 1604
Aste Bolaffi, June 17-18: Tristan Tzara and Salvador Dalì. Grains et Issues. Parigi, 1935
June 25, 2026
Doyle, June 25: Houdini's biography, boldly signed. $3,000 to $5,000.
Doyle, June 25: A volume from Abraham Lincoln's library, signed just before heading to Washington for his inauguration. $20,000 to $30,000.
Doyle, June 25: A very early Confederate recruiting manual belonging to the chief commissary in Lee's Army. $600 to $800.
Doyle, June 25: Rare hand-colored lithographs of the life of Napoleon. $20,000 to $30,000.
Doyle, June 25: The "Holster Atlas" of the American Revolution. $5,000 to $8,000.
Doyle, June 25: Jewish ceremonies in fine hand-colored engravings. $7,000 to $10,000.
Doyle, June 25: A very rare work on Turkish military costume. $1,000 to $1,500.
June 25, 2026
Doyle, June 25: The most important illustrated work on the Mexican-American War. $10,000 to $15,000.
Doyle, June 25: The finest illustrated book on Afghanistan. $10,000 to $15,000.
Doyle, June 25: Henry Justice Ford St. George rescues the Princess from the horrible Dragon. $2,000 to $3,000.
Doyle, June 25: A rare work of Prussian Army uniforms under Frederick William II, with exquisite hand-colored engravings. $800 to $1,200.
Doyle, June 25: Lenny Bruce typed letter signed to a Village bohemian during his obscenity trials, with a manuscript note and drawing. $300 to $500.
Doyle, June 25: Schiff's scarce Shanghai Sketchbook. $300 to $500.
Doyle, June 25: The first accurate published representation of the American flag. $2,000 to $4,000.
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 123. Celebrate 250 Years of Independence with Original Stars and Stripes (1790) Est. $1,400 - $1,700
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 20. Keulen's Spectacular Chart of the World Featuring California as an Island (1728) Est. $12,000 - $15,000
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 42. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Fantastic Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 591. Matching Set of 3 Stunning Globe Gores of Eastern Asia from Coronelli's 3.5 Foot Globe (1688) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 9. Speed's Popular World Map with Allegorical Representations of the Elements (1651) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 168. First Separate Map of Kansas & Nebraska Territories (1854) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 43. Only Macrobius Map with Britain Attached to Europe (1515) Est. $800 - $950
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 250. Rare Map of Boston and One of the Earliest Maps of the Revolutionary War (1775) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 79. Schenk's Uncommon Map Featuring Two Figurative Title Cartouches (1696) Est. $1,200 - $1,500
Old World Auctions (June 17): Lot 681. Hand-Colored Image of the Annunciation to the Shepherds (1502) Est. $800 - $950
Sotheby's Book Week 2 June - 9 July
Sotheby’s, June 25: Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations, on its 250th anniversary. $180,000 to $250,000.
Sotheby’s, June 17: Fontana, Lucio. Concetto Spaziale. 1967. Leporello en papier doré. Bel exemplaire signé. €4,000 to $€,000.
Sotheby’s, June 25: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”. $150,000 to $200,000.
Sotheby’s, June 25: Washington, George (as First President). Washington decries “an ostentatious imitation, or mimickry of Royalty” in his Presidency. $250,000 to $500,000.
Sotheby’s, June 17: Lope de Vega. Rare manuscrit autographe signé de la préface dédicatoire de "El Cardenal de Belen" (le cardinal de Bethléem), pièce composée en 1610. €40,000 to €60,000.
