farfel_n06_010_402

402
Stanford BookFair
Serendipity Books, Berkeley
Oct '93 $45.00

Christian Orient
Armenian Bible - N.T. Romans 5:1-5:20 leaf - probably
15th C. (ca 1450)

Written on thin vellum in black ink with red initials.
"Yergat" - iron - {Yergatagis style of lettering), no space between the
- "Steel" - boghbad, tzuyl, tashuyn)
words. 2 col. 27 + 28 lines per column. 10x13cm.

- Bolorgis script.
Teh earliest extant MGS of the Armenian Gospels is dated
887. The majority of the Armenian codices including
copies of the whole Bible, belong, however to the 12th
+ later centuries. The Armenian script + the versions of
the Bible were the chief means of crystallizing Armenian
speech which was the main factor in upholding the
existence + unity of the Armenian Church + nation.
Armenia - the 1st century to have recognized Christianity
officially (301 AD) since Constantine's decree of 313 was
only an edict of tolerance for the new faith.

Alphabet - 38 letters - 31 consonants + 7 vowels largely based on Greek alphabet.
Bolorogin orgin - a formal minuscle Armenia script which became prevalent from the 12th C
Wutagin ragis - cursive script - dev. in the 13th C. a semi formal Armenia script used in non Church MSS from the 14th C.

1st Armenian printed book - published at Venice, 1512. It
contains an ecclesiastical calendar, a medical treatise, a
poem + a prayer book. The printer Yakob the the Sunier, is
otherwise unknown.
Erhathagir - Armenian uncial (majuscule) script in predominant
use between 5th + 12th C.
1st Armenia printed Bible - Amsterdam - 1666.
- British Museum - Bible N.T. 1280 - written in an elegant
medium sized round hand, bolorgie.