Goatskin manuscript said to be 2000 years old showing the birth of Jesus with animals blowing on him to keep him warm, church of Abuna Aftse, on site of a 6th century church, Yeha, Aksum, Ethiopia, Africa

Thomas a Becket (1118-70), Archbishop of Canterbury, disputes with Henry II of England, overheard by 4 knights who murder Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. Manuscript c.1180, earliest representation. British Library

Boccaccio Dedicates His "Opus de Claris Mulieribus" to Countess Andree d'Hauteville 15th C. Boucicaut Master (15th C. ) Illuminated manuscript Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France

Froissart Chronicles (c.1333-c.1404). Richard II (1367-1400) King of England from 1377, surrendering the crown to Lord Derby, 29 December 1399. Richard died, probably murdered, in Pontefract Castle early in 1400. Manuscript, British. Museum, London

Shells and Shellfish, 16th century, From the Calligraphic Manuscript Mira Calligraphiae Monumenta, Inscribed by Georg Bocskay and Illuminated by Joris Hoefnagel (1542-ca.1601/Flemish)

France, Loire, Loire-Atlantique, Nantes, musée Dobré, close-up on manuscript, chronicles of Philippe de Commynes (16th century)

Duel Between Knights In Presence Of Emperor Charlemagne 14th Century World History/France Manuscript Biblioteca Marciana, Venice, Italy

Flight Into Egypt Book Of Hours Mid 15th Century Bedford Master Workshop (1430-1465 French) The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, CA

Canterbury Tales: The Knight (Ellesmere Chaucer) ca. 1400 Artist Unknown Illuminated manuscript The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California, USA

Alexander holding court in China., The legend of Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) was recounted endlessly in Islamic art and literature., After a Persian manuscript

The Raising of Lazarus (Detail): Book of Hours c. 1450-1475 Simon Marmion (c.1425-1489/French) The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California

Pluto and Persephone (Proserpine) enthroned. God and goddess of the underworld, with the 3-headed dog, Cerberus at their feet. 'Les Echecs amoureux' late 15th century manuscript produced for Louise de Savoy. B.N., Paris

Les Tres Riche Heures du Duc de Berry: March -Peasants at Work on a Feudal Estate 1413-1416 Limbourg Brothers(fl.1400-1416 Netherlandish) Facsimile manuscript Victoria & Albert Museum, London, England

Oswald von Wolkenstein--Knight, Poet, & Musician of Germany 1432 Artist Unknown Illuminated manuscript University Library, Innsbruck, Austria

Raising Of Lazarus, The Book Of Hours C. 1450-75 Marmion, Simon(ca.1425-1489 French) The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, CA

Joan of Arc Leads the Storm on Paris in 1429 ca. 1484 Artist Unknown Illuminated manuscript Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France

France, Loire, Loire-Atlantique, Nantes, musée Dobré, close-up on manuscript, chronicles of Philippe de Commynes (16th century)

Map of the Estuary at Saint-Laurent (Detail) ca. 1600's Artist Unknown Illuminated manuscript Service Historique de la Marine, Vincennes, France

Fabulous Creatures (Dragons and Other Beasts), From Le Livre des Merveilles les du Monde, (The Travels of Marco Polo), Studio of the Boucicaut Master, c.1412, Illuminated manuscript, Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France

Charles VI & Pierre Salmon (The Poet Presents His Book to the King) 1409 Artist Unknown Illuminated manuscript Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France

Rudolf von Ems' World Chronicle: King David Captures Sion & Jerusalem ca.1411 Artist Unknown Illuminated manuscript Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, (Kupferstichkabinett) Berlin, Germany

Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II Granting the City of Asti a Privilege ca. 1300 Artist Unknown Illuminated Manuscript Archivo Municipale, Asti, Italy

The Pardoner (Detail from the Canterbury Tales) ca. 1400 Geoffery Chaucer (1342-1400 British) Illuminated manuscript The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California

The Hermetic Androgyne: King=Sun=Gold, Queen=Moon=Silver, Dragon=Mercury=Volatility and so transmutation. Miniature from late 17th century German manuscript

The Visitation (Detail) from the Book of Hours c. 1450-1475 Simon Marmion (c. 1425-1489/ French) Decorated Vellum Leaf Manuscript Illumination The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California

Manesse Codex: Knight Receives Ring from His Lady 1305-1340 Artist Unknown Illuminated manuscript Heidelberg University Llibrary, Germany

Jabir Ibn Hayyan, Abu Musa (c721-c815 - Al Jabir: Geber) Arab alchemist. Court physician to Harun al-Rashid. From manuscript in Biblioteca Medicea Laurensiana, Florence, Italy

Rudolf von Ems' World Chronicle: Joseph & Potiphar's Wife ca.1411 Artist Unknown Illuminated manuscript Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Kupferstichkabinett) Berlin, Germany

The Virgin Enthroned: Book of Hours c. 1450-1475 Simon Marmion (c. 1425-1489/ French) Decorative vellum leaf The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California

Bloodletting Mannequin (Depiction of How the Zodiac Influences Humans) 16th C. Artist Unknown Illuminated manuscript Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France

King David playing a 'lyre'. 10th-11th century manuscript of St Martial de Limoges.Probably a Rebec (Rebeck) 3-stringed instrument developed from Arab Rabab. B.N., Paris

Tennyson of Aldworth and Freshwater Alfred Tennyson 1st Baron byname Alfred Lord Tennyson 1809 1892 English poet laureate From the book Tennyson a memoir by his son Hallam Lord Tennyson published 1897Tears idle Tears from the original manuscript

Les Tres Riche Heures Du Duc De Berry: February - Farmyard Scene with Peasants 1413-16 Limbourg Brothers(fl.1400-1416 Netherlandish) Facsimile Manuscript Victoria & Albert Museum, London, England

The Annunciation Book of Hours Simon Marmion (C.1425-1489 French) Manuscript The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California

The Flight into Egypt from the Book of Hours Manuscript Illumination Artist Unknown The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California

Henry IV in Canossa: The King Begs the Abbot & Implores Mathilde 1114 Artist Unknown Illuminated manuscript Vatican Library, Vatican City

Massacre of Rebellious French Peasants at Meaux by Dauphin's Troops in 1358 15th C. Jean Froissart (ca.1337-ca.1405 French) Illuminated manuscript Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France

St. Luke Painting of the Virgin Mary Book of Hours Simon Marmion (C. 1425-1489 French) The Huntington Library, Art Collections