Thomas Cooper Library acquires medieval manuscript treasure

The University of South Carolina's Thomas Cooper Library has acquired a rare medieval manuscript written in 1269 for the Order of Cistercians in Italy and subsequently used for private devotion in the 15th or early 16th century.

The library acquired this prized manuscript on June 29 at the venerable Sotheby's auction house in London. While Sotheby's specialists described the Italian manuscript in its catalogue as suitable for private devotion, Dr. Scott Gwara, a medievalist and English professor at the university, had a different view of its literary significance.

"This book served as a preacher's manual," Gwara said. "It has pages of biblical interpretations used for making sermons, extracts from the lives of saints, a calendar so that a monk or priest would know what martyr to honor on a particular day and even a bestiary so that they could include a few remarks about animal symbolism."

Gwara said that a Cistercian monk or priest would have consulted the bestiary to provide symbolic interpretations of animals in the Bible and other religious texts.

"For example, the unicorn was thought to be a fiercely violent creature, but it could be tamed by a virgin," he said. "The unicorn was therefore a symbol of Christ born of a virgin."

The purchase of the rare medieval document by the Thomas Cooper Library was made possible by a $45,000 gift from the B.H. Breslauer Foundation of New York. The Breslauer Foundation supports major purchases of rare books and manuscripts, and its officers are world authorities in manuscripts and early printed books.

Felix de Marez Oyens, president of the Breslauer Foundation said, "Since its inception a few years ago, the foundation has financed significant book purchases by major libraries on the East Coast and in several European countries, but none has been more appropriate or satisfying than the University of South Carolina's Cistercian manuscript. We believe that its acquisition perfectly embodies the late Dr. Breslauer's ideas when he created the foundation."

With this important acquisition of nearly all unpublished texts, the university could devote each section of the book to undergraduate research, a Magellan scholarship or honors thesis.

Gwara says the texts document mainstream medieval spirituality.

"While these writings are unique, they conform to a wider tradition of medieval thought," he said. "There could be no better introduction to medieval Christianity than a compilation like this."

Dr. Patrick Scott, the university's director of Rare Books and Special Collections, praised the Breslauer Foundation's generosity and leadership.

"The Breslauer Foundation provided not only funding, but also very helpful expert advice," Scott said.

The Thomas Cooper Library houses the largest collection of medieval manuscripts in the state: about 85 items, ranging in date from the 12th to the 16th century. Many of these manuscript treasures, including the Breslauer volume, will be on display next year from January to March.