Codicology

Codicology

The term codicology is of recent vintage, there being some argument as to who invented it, the classical philologist Alphonse Dain or the historian Charles Samaran. It seems likely that Samaran invented _codicography_, based on _paleography_, and that Dain invented _codicology_, based on this.  It is unimportant at any rate, the thing having existed long before the name (res ante nominum, to calque a phrase). See J. P. Gumbert, "Ebert's Codicology a Hundred and Fifty Years Old," Quaerendo 5 (1975), 336- 39. In German, one spoke long ago of Handschriftenkunde, Buchwesen and such things, and the term `archaeology of the book' has been bandied about.  Codicology seems handy, though it must be extended to include scroll, roll, and other writing materials and modes of gathering. Codicology (from Latin cōdex, genitive cōdicis, "notebook, book"; and Greek -λογία, -logia) is the study of books as physical objects, especially manuscripts written on parchment (or paper) in codex form. It is often referred to as 'the archaeology of the book', concerning itself with the materials (parchment, sometimes referred to as membrane or vellum, paper, pigments, inks and so on), and techniques used to make books, including their binding.There are no clear-cut definitions: some codicologists say that their field encompasses palaeography, the study of handwriting, while some palaeographers say that their field encompasses codicology. The study of written features such as marginalia, glosses, ownership inscriptions, etc. falls in both camps, as does the study of the physical aspects of decoration, which otherwise belongs to art history.

Codicology

Codicology

Codicology

Codicology

Codicology

Codicology

Codicology

Codicology

Codicology