Giving Books as Gifts in the Middle Ages

Getty medievalist Larisa Grollemond discusses a popular medieval present

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Ancient Life

An illuminated page. A behaloed woman holds a book for a smaller behaloed woman to read — Saint Anne Teaching the Virgin to Read, about 1430-1440, Master of Sir John Fastolf. Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink, 4 3/4 × 3 5/8 in. Getty Museum, Ms. 5 (84.ML.723), fol. 45v

By Sarah Waldorf, Larisa Grollemond

Apr 25, 2023

Stumped on what gift to get for that special someone?

May we suggest…a book? Bonus points if it’s medieval.

A detail of an illumination featuring a cross section of a great hall. Outside, a man on his knees gives a golden object to a standing man. Inside the hall, many figures are gathered — The Portuguese Embassy, about 1480-1483, Master of the Soane Josephus. Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink, 18 7/8 × 13 3/4 in. Getty Museum, Ms. Ludwig XIII 7 (83.MP.150), fol. 112

Gift-giving was an important part of medieval culture. Gifts could even be an important part of diplomatic relations.

A detail of a colorful illumination. A kneeling, robed man offers a book to a king on a throne. Behind them, several men talk and look on — *Alchandreus Presents His Work to a King* (detail), about 1405, Virgil Master. Tempera colors, gold paint, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; leaf: 15 3/8 x 12 in. Getty Museum, Ms. 72, fol. 2, 2003.25.2

Of course, gifts could be personal too and books frequently changed hands as presents.

An illuminated manuscript with an ornate border around central text. The main image features a robed figure reading an open book — Initial B: David in Prayer, 1420-1430, English. Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink, 14 × 9 1/2 in. Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. 17 (85.MK.318), fol. 1

One manuscript in our collection testifies to the fact that medieval books always make good gifts.

An illuminated page with a richly-decorated border of colorful vines and flowers. The initial "D" is decorated with an ornate blue flower — Decorated Initial D, 1420-1430, English. Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink, 14 × 9 1/2 in. Getty Museum, Ms. 17 (85.MK.318), fol. 21

This luxuriously-illuminated 15th-century English psalter must have been a prized possession for its original owners, but thanks to an endearing modern inscription on one of the flyleaves, we know that it was also a special gift in the 20th century.

A photograph of a hand-written note on a blank book page. The note reads, "Bunnie darling, your engagement ‘ring’ remember?" — *Psalter* (detail), 1420-1430, English. Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink, 14 × 9 1/2 in. Getty Museum, Ms. 17 (85.MK.318), fol. 21

The inscription reads “Bunnie, darling, your engagement ‘ring’ remember?”

A personal dedication from famous manuscript collector Philip Hofer to his fiancée, Frances, is a reminder of the ways that medieval books can have complex afterlives that extend far beyond the Middle Ages.