Lecture Notes: Ancient Methods, Modern Results - To Err is Human and to Correct Divine

Introduction

• Speaker: Tim Ternes, Director of Programming and the St. John's Bible at HIML
• Location: Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HIML), St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota
• Series: "Ancient Methods, Modern Results" - explores tools, methods, materials of the St. John's Bible

St. John's Bible

• A handwritten illuminated Bible
• Materials: parchment (animal skin), quill, hand-ground inks
• Writing errors: potential for mistakes like misspellings or ink blots

Error Correction in Manuscripts

Medieval Practices

• Reaction to Errors: Medieval monks were not overly concerned; often corrected in simple ways:
  • Cross out errors and mark with dots
  • Cross off and redo entire pages if necessary

Error Correction Techniques

• Use of Vellum: More forgiving than paper
  • Tools: Pen knife or correcting knife to scrape mistakes
  • Sandpaper used to smooth surface post-scraping

Examples of Corrections

• Sign of Return: Used for missing lines

  • Small symbols or drawings like red diamonds or birds to indicate corrected lines
  • Comparable to modern asterisks

• Historical Manuscripts:

  • 13th Century Manuscripts: Various creative methods to indicate text corrections
  • British Library Examples: Marginal illustrations or symbols to indicate text placement

Specific Corrections in the St. John's Bible

• Limited Corrections: Only 9 major corrections in 1100+ pages
  • Examples:
    • Birds used in four mistakes (e.g., in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus)
    • Creative corrections involving symbols (e.g., a lemur or bumblebee with pulley system)

Artistic and Calligraphic Corrections

• Showcase page by all six calligraphers includes subtle corrections
• Favorite Corrections:
  • Bumblebee and pulley system symbolizing missing line placement
  • Lemur illustration indicating correction

Conclusion

• Every calligrapher made mistakes
• First Page of St. John's Bible: Even the first page had a correction
• Philosophy: The Bible is written by human hands despite being the Word of God

Closing Remarks

• Invitation to learn more via HIML's website
• Encouragement to support preservation work of endangered manuscripts by HIML