Codex Ashburnham Facsimile Edition

Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Ashburnham was crafted in 1489-1492 and is made up of two volumes, identified as Ashburnham 2037 and Ashburnham 2038. The two volumes containing Leonardo's sketches and notes, measuring approximately 24 x 19 cm,  are written on paper and bound in cardboard. They mainly feature artistic studies (2038) and a miscellaneous group of other subjects (2037).

The Codex Ashburnham originally formed part of Leonardo's Manuscript A and Manuscript B in the Institut de France, where they were torn out by Guglielmo Libri, an Italian count and mathematician who became known for his love and subsequent theft of ancient and precious manuscripts, in the mid-nineteenth century. Libri later sold the stolen folios to the British bibliophile Bertram Ashburnham, fourth Earl of Ashburnham (hence their name). In 1890, Ashburnham 2037 and Ashburnham 2038 were finally returned to the Institut de France, where they are still treasured today.