

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION, UNITED STATES
(1) There are two colophons: the first records that the book was written and decorated by Stephanos "abegha" (monk) at the monastery of Havuts Tar, in the year 920 of the Armenian Era (i.e. 1471 CE), bound by Yovhannes "abegha", monk, and that it was owned by Stephanos, a priest; (2) the second (written by Martiros "yerets") mentions the acquisition of the manuscript by Murad in 1121 (1672 CE). (3) Boisgirard-Antonini, Paris, Arts d’Orient, 14 February 2002, lot 291 (with description loosely inserted).
Binding
The use of binding waste was generally deliberate in Armenian bindings, to show the continuation of book production. The cloth board liners are a typical feature of Armenian bindings, which help distinguish them from Byzantine bindings. The cross on the upper cover represents the Crucifixion, whereas the rectangle on the lower cover represents the oblong of Christ's empty tomb.
We are grateful for the assistance of Gevorg Ter-Vardanean in the description of this book.