A Northern Tour by the AIB anthony davis Bibliophily and good fellowship have long been associated, prob- ably even before Jean Grolier adopted the motto ‘et amicorum’ to decorate his precious books. Both are features of the Association Internationale de Bibliophilie, whose annual trip visiting libraries and (where possible) eating grand meals took place this year in North East England, centred on Durham and York. For those who do not know the organisation, it comprises book lovers from many countries (chiefly, but not exclusively, the USA, France and the UK) including distinguished collectors, scholars, librarians and antiquarian dealers. The main activities are an annual conference, or colloque, and some important publications including the Bulletin du Bibliophile . The ancient cathedrals and university libraries of Durham and York formed the backbone of the visit, with excursions to other notable collections nearby including the Brotherton Library in Leeds. The splendid medieval buildings provided an extraordinary backdrop to the marvellous books. Our opening session was in Durham’s twelfth century chapter house (somewhat reconstructed after a nineteenth century clerk of works pulled out the keystone of the roof but, nonetheless, possibly the oldest setting for an AIB ceremony so far). The opening by the Lord Lieutenant was followed by a lecture, ‘Books in Medieval Durham’, given by Professor Richard Gameson with appearances from his cat (she was upstaged later in York by a 1641 prayer book bearing muddy footprints of the pet of an early owner, Marmaduke Fothergill). Library highlights included a sixth century fragment of the Book of Maccabees from Italy (almost certainly known to Bede himself), the early eighth century Durham Gospels , a copy of Cassiodorus, Commentary on the Psalms, reputed to be copied by Bede and the earliest illuminated Romanesque Latin Bible with an English provenance (the Saint-Calais , or Carilef Bible , Normandy, late eleventh century).
798
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter