1. Introduction 1. Size and scope of the collection
The Schøyen Collection comprises most types of manuscripts from the whole world spanning over 5000 years. It is the largest private manuscript collection formed in the 20th century.
The whole collection, MSS 1-5381, comprises 13,642 manuscript items, including 2,242 volumes. 6,850 manuscript items are from the ancient period, 3300 BC - 500 AD; 3,851 are from the medieval period, 500 - 1500; and 2,941 are post-medieval. There are manuscripts from 134 different countries and territories in 120 languages and 184 scripts.
Never before has there been formed a collection with such variety geographically, linguistically, textually, and of scripts, writing materials, etc., over such a great span of time as 5 millennia.
Only a few of the largest National libraries have a similar scope, and even they do not own collections of writings on clay, metals, wood, bone, stone, glass, etc., which normally will be in archaeological museums.
A further hallmark of the collection is its strength in very early manuscripts. The first major river valley civilisations of the world are all represented with their earliest evidence of writing c. 3300 BC.
The beginning of script in Europe is represented by bones from France and Spain 4000-3800 BC and the challenging undeciphered Minoan Linear A script from Crete 16th c. BC. Even the New World is represented by divination manuals on stone from Ecuador, ca. 3500-1500 BC, and Australia is represented with cylcons which can be up to 20 000 years old.
The Schøyen Collection thus crosses borders and unites cultures, religions and unique materials found nowhere else.
This is not a catalogue of the collection. A full catalogue will be published in a few years. 75 % of the collection has so far been catalogued.
The present website comprises a selection of digital descriptions of manuscripts with sample images from The Schøyen Collection. The whole collection comprises about 13,600 manuscripts and inscribed objects, of which about 720 are available on the present website. The selection, descriptions and digitalisation are the responsibility of the owner of The Schøyen Collection.
By giving access to parts of unique materials, the present web presentation contributes towards the publication and availability of this internationally important part of the world's cultural heritage, independently of the physical location of the original objects.
MS 1, a fragment of French sermons c. 1300 in the binding of Manuale del Navarro, printed in Ferrara in 1592, was acquired in Firenze in 1955. More serious collecting on a larger scale started in the 1970'ies. However, the first substantial medieval MS was not bought until June 1986. This was vol. 3 of the monumental Romanesque lectern Bible from Geraardsbergen Abbey.
The main focus in the following years was MSS of the Bible, the most influential and important book ever written. This group was highlighted by the acquisition of the St. Cecilia Bible, the only Carolingian Bible in private hands; further by Codex Sinaiticus Zosimi Rescriptus, the 6th c. palimpsest Aramaic Gospels from St. Catherine's Monastery; and The Liesborn Gospels of the 10th c.
The earliest book in private ownership fromthe 3rd c., was acquired at Sotheby's sale in December 1988. It has the earliest known complete text of 2 books of the Bible. The earliest MSS in the Bible collection are fragments from The Dead Sea Scrolls, written in the lifetime of Christ and the Apostles, and some even earlier.
History has always been a major field of interest. In 1989 and 1991, 1130 MS volumes of the history of Europe were bought en bloc, a total of 2 1/2 tons of MSS. They came from Sir Thomas Phillipps' collection, old stock of Robinson Bros. and H.P. Kraus.
From 1988 on the collection was also extended into the field of literature. This group starts with the dawn of the literature, c. 2600 BC, and continues with the oldest MS of part of the Old Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, the first substantial world literature, c. 1800 BC.
The earliest cornerstones of European literature, Homer and Hesiod, are both represented with the earliest known MSS of parts of their main works. The group ends with modern literature, including Shakespeare and Ibsen, thus spanning over 4500 years.
In 1988 the collection of palaeography started with the acquisition en bloc from Quaritch of most of Bernard Rosenthal's extensive and highly scholarly collection, especially strong on Beneventan script and other early national scripts. It totalled over 200 items. A rare treasure of 3 MSS and documents in the Anglo-Saxon language, MSS 197, 600 and 1354, was later acquired. The last major acquisition in this group was made in 1994, comprising the palaeography collection of Prof. Dr. Bernhard Bischoff. Today there are 494 items of book scripts and 1693 items of documentary scripts in the collection.
In addition to the 4 main collections, The Bible, History, Literature, and Palaeography, there are 19 special collections, and further 18 smaller collections spanning from Architecture to Slavery and Wine. For more info about the Special collections, click here.
The acquisition of large private collections of substantial quality and importance has continued. Many of these were collected in the 1920'ies and 1930'ies, when the supply of highly important materials was by far greater than today. Such collections, from 50 to over 2000 manuscript items, are the main reason for the combination of very important texts in unusually large numbers and of early date in The Schøyen Collection. This could not have been achieved by acquiring manuscripts one by one in the 1980'ies and 1990'ies. The credit goes to these great collectors. The achievement to assemble these collections and the other manuscripts together in one collection is Soli Deo Gloria.
Acquisition of non-western manuscripts, particularly from the Near and Far East, was in practical terms halted by the end of 2001. There are still lacunae in the holdings of Western manuscripts, and attempts to fill these continue.
The uniqueness and importance of the materials in The Schøyen Collection go far beyond the scope of a private collection, or even a national public collection. These MSS are the world's heritage, the memory of the world. They are felt not really to belong to The Schøyen Collection and its owner, who is the privileged keeper, neither do they belong to a particular nation, people, religion, culture, but to mankind, being the property of the entire world. In the future The Schøyen Collection will have to be placed in a public context that can fulfil these visions. The proceeds will go to The Schøyen Human Rights Foundation to give emergency aid and fight poverty in emerging nations, and to promote Freedom of Speech and Human Rights worldwide.
The provenance of the originals of all manuscripts and objects on the present website is stated either for each single manuscript; or in case of larger groups of manuscripts and objects of homogenous nature, for the group.
Some of these manuscripts have over 1000 years of unbroken ownership history; see for instance MS 20. See also the list of Monastic scriptoria and provenances, and the Statement of Provenance for the homogenous groups of cuneiform tablets, seals and incantation bowls.
The present website descriptions are shortened as much as possible to make them more accessible and easily readable to prevent readers to click on to other websites. Detailed collations, physical descriptions, lengthy historical or art historical descriptions are deleted, and repetitive provenance information for homogenous groups are listed for the groups rather than individually. Such information will be included in detail in the full printed catalogue of the Collection when it is published.
Documentation of a great number of scholars’ detailed collations, descriptions, findings, correspondence and of provenance, regarding specific manuscripts, is available upon request for accredited scholars who need the details for their research. Inquiries should be addressed to the Collection f. inst. in a contact mail.
Extensive conservation programmes have been in effect for some 20 years, to ensure that the precious materials also shall survive in best possible condition in the future.
Bound manuscripts of vellum and paper have been treated according to modern conservation methods, deteriorating materials stabilized and defective early bindings left as is and put in protective conservation folders or placed in folding cases.
Manuscripts of papyrus, palm leaf or birch bark, have been cleaned, partly reassembled and conserved either under glass, or in conservation folders.
Inscribed clay objects have, when not fired in antiquity or by previous owners, mostly been baked under electronic controlled firing procedures, desalted and stored in conservation carrying cases or folding cases. Objects in good, stable condition have been left as they are.
Fire, water, humidity and changing conditions being the foremost threats to manuscripts, most of the collection is stored in dark vaults at 40-55 % humidity and low, constant temperature around 12-15°C.
For scholarly research and access the collection is a unique source, uniting materials usually scattered world wide to two locations only.
The Schøyen Collection is located mainly in Oslo and London. Scholars are always welcome, and are strongly encouraged to do research and to publish material. Parts of the collection are deposited with universities and public libraries to facilitate access for scholars. Over 90 % of the MSS are unpublished at present.
Several major research and publication projects are in progress, covering more than 60 % of the Collection, to be published in the series Manuscripts in The Schøyen Collection. There is also a Bibliography, including pictorial references to manuscripts in the Schøyen Collection.
The correct reference to a specific MS in the collection is: "The Schøyen Collection MS (number)". The correct location is: "Oslo and London". The descriptions are based on the research, publications and kind assistance of a great many scholars.
This website was originally developed in cooperation with the National Library of Norway, with design and realization by Jingru Høivik. Further design, development and realization by Elizabeth Sørenssen, Martin Schøyen and Jenina Bas.
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Copyright © Martin Schøyen. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be published, reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. Enquiries for permission should be addressed to the collection by email.
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