The Most Beautiful Bibles

The Most Beautiful Bibles covers examples from every epoch of the Middle Ages, presenting the Bible as it was visualized in both theological and historical contexts. As the beauty and significance of the illustrations are undeniable, the manuscripts are also examined from an art historical point of view. This sumptuous publication of these rare and significant manuscripts-reproduced with the impeccable quality and modest price tag for which TASCHEN is known-is a truly divine event.

A team of 15 scholars describes each biblical manuscript in detail and explores the evolution of the Bible, as well as the medieval understanding of history that is inherent in these versions of the Bible. Also includes a glossary of important biblical terms.

Christian Gastgeber studied classics and Byzantine studies at the University of Vienna. After receiving his doctorate in 2002, he joined the staff of the Byzantine Section of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, specialising in Greek palaeography and diplomatics. He is editor-in-chief of Biblos, a periodical for the history of books, libraries, script, and typography issued by the Austrian National Library in Vienna.

Andreas Fingernagel studied art history and archaeology in Salzburg and Vienna. From 1985 to 1989, he worked in the Manuscripts Department of the Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin, and later took part in research relating to the cataloguing of medieval manuscripts in Vienna's Austrian National Library. He teaches at the University of Vienna.

Stephan Fussel is Director of the Institute of the History of the Book at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, and holder of the Gutenberg Chair at the same university. He is President of the Willibald Pirckhelmer Society for Renaissance and Humanist Studies, member of the board of the International Gutenberg Society and editor of the annual Gutenberg Jahrbuch and Pirckheimer Jahrbuch. He has published widely on early printing, on bookselling and publishing from the 18th to the 20th century, and on the future of communications.