Libraries of Russia: Orenburg University library acquires a unique edition

Orenburg State University’s Scientific Library has acquired a unique edition — a complete facsimile edition of Illuminated Chronicle of Ivan the Terrible.

The edition is the accurate recreated counterpart of the 16th century masterpiece and represents some tens of magnificent volumes, each of them is a piece of the book art of 21st century. An outstanding example of Russian culture which contains ten thousand pages of unique text, was dispersed and had different owners, and it is a miracle that it has survived and today is presented in full. Books have been bound by hand: binding’s shagreen leather has gold lettering.

Illuminated Chronicle is a valuable historic source which offers the description of nature, material production, culture and way of life of Rus’ and neighboring peoples. Work on the chronicle brought together leading historians, linguists and art historians from major research centers of Russia. So far the chronicle has been little studied: just 7% out of 17 000 miniatures has been put into scientific circulation. Meanwhile the ten-volume Illuminated Chronicle of 16th century — is the largest chronicle of the medieval Russia which turns the spotlight on the events in the world’s and Russian history up to 1567. First three volumes are dedicated the world history: from unique illuminated Bible to the history of Byzantium.