Libraries abroad: Lambeth Palace Library celebrates its 400th anniversary

In 2010 one of the England’s oldest public libraries - the Lambeth Palace Library in London is celebrating 400^th anniversary. To celebrate 400 years since its foundation, Lambeth Palace Library offers the public a fascinating exhibition “Treasures of Lambeth Palace Library - 400th Anniversary Exhibition 1610-2010”, opening in London at Lambeth Palace on May, 17 2010. It will display the incomparably rich and diverse collections of manuscripts, archives and printed books, built up over the past four centuries.

Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1610 Richard Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, bequeathed his extensive collection of printed books and manuscripts “to the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury successively for ever,” resulting in the formation of Lambeth Palace Library.

Treasures of the collection include a Gutenberg Bible (Mainz, 1455) and the 12th century Lambeth Bible, regarded as one of the monuments of Romanesque art. Founding collection treasures include manuscripts from the dissolved monasteries of Christ Church Canterbury and St Augustine's in Canterbury. Many books and manuscripts are linked with great names of the past – a set of the works of Aristotle, printed in Venice between 1495 and 1498, and King Richard III's 15th century manuscript Book of Hours, which was in his tent at the Battle of Bosworth in August 1485. Among other exhibits is the Gospel book, manufactured in Ireland during the early Middle Ages and owned by King Athelstan
of Wessex, Greek manuscripts dating from the 10th century, many in their original Byzantine bindings to name but a few.