The Saint Albans Psalter, also known as the Albani Psalter, is an exuberant example of the Romanesque style. A large volume (27.6 cm x 18.4 cm), it consists of 418 pages, plus two other leaves: one at the Schnütgen Museum, the other missing. Most pages contain either large full-page miniatures in a range of bright colors or large colorful historiated initials decorated with gold. Dating the manuscript has caused controversy, but it is generally agreed that it was made at St Albans abbey between 1120 and 1130. The date is significant because this is the first extant manuscript with full-page miniatures to be made in England since the tenth century — that is, after the Norman conquest.

Earlier scholarship suggested that it was made for the early twelfth-century anchoress Christina of Markyate. But recent scholarship suggests it was made for Geoffrey of Gorron, Abbot of St Albans (1119–1146), possibly specifically for Christina's use.

The manuscript is the work of at least four artists and seven scribes. The quality and quantity of the miniatures alone, with over forty full-page miniatures and 150 historiated initials, is breathtaking. Scholars are divided as to whether the manuscript was conceived as a single project, or was made in parts over a long period of time. It represents a form not seen in previous extant manuscripts since it includes an extended narrative of full-page miniatures, French literature, and unusual iconographic motifs.

Innovative Iconography and Bold Use of Color

The five sections in the manuscript include: a liturgical calendar, the Life of Christ, the Alexis quire, psalms, prayers and canticles, and a diptych of St Alban and David. At least four artists participated in the creation of the initials and miniatures, however, scholars do not agree on the artists involved in each section.

One artist, named by scholars as the Alexis Master due to his work on the Alexis quire, is of particular importance because of his influence on later manuscripts.

Strong colors with heavy outline, which feature in the manuscript, contrast with the line and wash more often the mark of late Anglo-Saxon manuscripts. Unusually, most figures are in profile, and large gesticulating hands indicate either a figure speaking or direct the reader’s attention to something.

The iconography in the miniature cycles relates to the later Eadwine Psalter, with both showing links to earlier Ottonian sources. Rare and innovative depictions for the period include: the use of redemption imagery to precede the psalms, rather than the struggle between good and evil; Mary Magdalene announcing the Resurrection; and the Annunciation with the Virgin holding a book.

Colorful and Distinctive Writing

St Albans abbey, like other scriptoria, created their own style of script, and this is evident in the St Albans Psalter. Distinctive letter forms allow identification of at least six scribes but scholars are divided on precisely how they collaborated. Evidence of alterations within a text reveals that at least one of these scribes was also involved in correcting the texts produced.

Although predominantly black with colored capitals, the text is also written in red and green (calendar section); red and blue (Alexis quire), and red, blue, and green (Beatus page).

Survivor of Religious and Secular Reform

Erasures in the manuscript confirm its location in England in 1535. These erasures follow a directive from Henry VIII to remove references to the Pope. This is evident in the manuscript so it must have been in England at that time. The psalter probably remained at Markyate, but was removed during the Reformation when the priory was dissolved, some two years after the King’s directive.

An inscription dated 1657 indicates it was then at Lamspringe monastery, which in 1643 was given to English Benedictine monks. The manuscript may have been taken there by one of the monks although it may have been given by Henry Mordaunt (d. 1697), second Earl of Peterborough, who was the owner of other books in the Lamspringe library.

In 1803 the Lamspringe monastery was secularized and a large number of books were auctioned. The manuscript, however, was given to the church of the Benedictine abbey of St. Godehard and is identified as being in the cathedral library since 1827.

Around 1890 two leaves were noted missing: the final leaf, and a leaf between pp. 266 and 267. The final leaf was in the collection of Hermann Joseph Lückger (1864–1951) but its connection with the St Albans Psalter was not understood until the 1950s. This single leaf is now in the Schnütgen museum. The other missing leaf has yet to be found.

During the Second World War the manuscript was moved to a Hildesheim bank vault for safety, but when the bank caught fire in an air raid (March 1945) it was housed at a priest’s home until around the 1960s, when it returned to the cathedral library.

Binding description

The manuscript has been rebound at least three times; its current binding dates to 1936. It consists of brown leather over paste boards and preserves the previous binding of pigskin. Evidence from previous materials used demonstrates that the manuscript was bound in the twelfth century, rebound in the fourteenth or fifteenth century in England, rebound again in the fourteenth or fifteenth century, and again in 1936 in Germany.

We have 3 facsimiles of the manuscript "St. Alban's Psalter":

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Manuscript book description compiled by Maria R. Grasso.
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#1 Il Salterio di St. Albans

Rome: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani, 2007

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 1
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 1

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 2
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 2

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 3
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 3

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 4
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 4

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 5
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 5

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 6
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 6

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 7
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 7

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 8
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 8

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 9
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 9

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 10
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 10

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 11
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 11

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 12
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 12

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 13
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 13

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 14
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 14

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 15
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 15

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 16
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 16

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 17
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 17

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 18
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 18

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 19
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 19

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 20
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 20

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 21
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 21

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 22
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 22

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 23
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 23

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 24
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 24

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 25
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 25

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 26
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 26

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 27
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 27

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 28
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 28

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St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1  Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 29
St. Alban’s Psalter, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1 Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694 − Photo 29
  • Commentary (Italian)
  • Limited Edition: 750 copies
  • Full-size color reproduction of one or more portions of the original document, St. Alban's Psalter: the facsimile attempts to replicate the look-and-feel and physical features of the original document; pages are trimmed according to the original format; the binding might not be consistent with the current document binding.

The facsimile is an unabridged reproduction of all the fragments of the St. Alban's Psalter that was once an individual document.

Co-edition with Eikon Editores and Mueller & Schindler.

Binding

Bordeaux red leather with blind tooling, modelled on a contemporary English binding of the 12th century. Cassette in gold-tooled leather.

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#2 Salterio de San Albans

Madrid: Eikon Editores, 2007

Salterio de San Albans, Hildesheim, Dombibliothek Hildesheim, MS St. God. 1
Cologne, Schnütgen Museum, Inv. No. M694, Salterio de San Albans facsimile edition by Eikon Editores.
Salterio de San Albans facsimile edition by Eikon Editores.
  • Commentary (English abstract, Spanish) by Bepler, Jochen; Kidd, Peter; Geddes, Jane
  • Limited Edition: 1125 copies
  • Full-size color reproduction of one or more portions of the original document, St. Alban's Psalter: the facsimile attempts to replicate the look-and-feel and physical features of the original document; pages are trimmed according to the original format; the binding might not be consistent with the current document binding.

The facsimile is an unabridged reproduction of all the fragments of the St. Alban's Psalter that was once an individual document.

Co-edition with Treccani and Mueller & Schindler.

Binding

Bordeaux red leather with blind tooling, modelled on a contemporary English binding of the 12th century. Cassette in gold-tooled leather.

Our Price

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#3 Der Albani-Psalter

Stuttgart or Simbach am Inn: Mueller & Schindler, 2007

St. Alban’s Psalter, MS St. God. 1 - Dombibliothek Hildesheim, Basilika St. Godehard (Germany) / 
Inv. No. M694 - Schnütgen Museum Köln (Cologne, Germany), Facsimile edition by Mueller & Schindler
Facsimile edition by Mueller & Schindler
  • Commentary (English abstract, German) by Bepler, Jochen; Kidd, Peter; Geddes, Jane
  • Limited Edition: 1125 copies
  • Full-size color reproduction of one or more portions of the original document, St. Alban's Psalter: the facsimile attempts to replicate the look-and-feel and physical features of the original document; pages are trimmed according to the original format; the binding might not be consistent with the current document binding.

The facsimile is an unabridged reproduction of all the fragments of the St. Alban's Psalter that was once an individual document.

Co-edition with Treccani and Eikon Editores.

Binding

Bordeaux red leather with blind tooling, modelled on a contemporary English binding of the 12th century. Cassette in gold-tooled leather.

Our Price

More Buying Choices

Request Info