— Old Church Slavonic Psalter

Moscow, Not Stated, c1678 . Leather. A vanishingly scarce seventeenth-century Old Church Slavonic psalter, the oldest surviving written Slavonic language, bound in a striking seventeenth-century full calf binding with metal clasps. Bound in an impressive seventeenth-century full calf binding, with functional metal clasps and decorative blind stamping.Comprised of 960 pages. Vanishingly scarce work. A seventeenth-century psalter written in Old Church Slavonic, the oldest surviving Slavonic language used in literary sources. Dated from the Church Slavonic year 7186, which is equivalent to our year 1678. Containing writings of a religious and moral nature, providing instruction and guidance for children. From the 9th century, the Old Church Slavonic language started becoming more widely used in religious texts after being employed by Byzantine missionary brothers Cyril and Methodius in their liturgical works and translations. Using the Glagolitic script, Old Church Slavonic has since developed across the Slavic world, with many different styles appearing with different functions.Illustrated with one engraved plate depicting a religious scene, and a number of illuminated letters and other adornments. Around thirty-two pages have been laid down, mainly being the first and last pages of the work. In a full calf binding, with functional metal clasps and decorative blind stamping. Externally, very good, with light rubbing to the joints and extremities. Endpapers renewed. Internally, generally firmly bound, with a few pages working loose. Pages are age toned with scattered spotting and a few pencil annotations. The occasional soiling to pages and small tide mark. Around thirty leaves have been laid down, repairing losses to the extremities. This does not affect the text. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .