BIFOLIUM IN SYRIAC SCRIPT FROM THE 'PESHITTA' BIBLE CIRCA 16TH-17TH CENTURY written in black ink on paper, comprising New Testament Luke vv. 17.7- vv. 18.6, the text is divided into two columns on each of the four leaves, ruled with 28 lines per column, with justified margins, red quatrefoil cross paragraphii indicating verse endings, sporadically applied, rubrics in red on the side margins denote chapter and verse numbers, with occasional instructions for usage, rubric comments in red in the lower margins indicating variant readings from the synoptic gospels (40cm x 27cm) Qty: (2) Provenance: Private collection of a notable Ottoman family in London. The collection is from a notable Ottoman land-owning family, that married over generations into the Sultans’ court. Some were judges, civil servants and vizirs in the Damascus vilayet, as well as members of parliament to the Sublime Porte. Note: The Peshitta version of the New Testament emerged in the 5th century resulting from widespread reforms implemented by Rabbula, Bishop of Edessa. This bifolium is a wonderful and intact handwritten example from a later edition of the Peshitta, before printing became commonplace. It is written in the Syriac Eastrangelo script by a trained ecclesiastical hand, in a monastic context. The Estrangelo script was used for biblical and liturgical works, as well as for inscriptions, by the Syriac branches of Christianity. Please refer to the departement for a more in-depth report kindly provided by Dr Erica Hunter.