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IM-1521: (185x130mm) Original leaf from an English manuscript pocket Bible. Historiated initial painted by William de Brailes - one of the few 13^th century English illuminators known by name! (De Brailes maintained an active workshop at Oxford c. 1238-52.  He was the illuminator of the Oxford Bible). Written in Latin gothic script, in brown ink on animal vellum. Rubricated chapter numbers, initials and marginalia in red and blue. 54 lines of text in double columns (10 lines per inch!).  For sister leaf see Blackburn Collection, Cleveland Museum of Art, pl. 4.

Produced in Oxford, c. 1240 A.D.

The historiated six-line initial ''P'' extends into the margin and has a wonderful creature's head at the bottom. The initial contains a painting of Paul holding a sword and book. It begins Ephesians 1:1-4:11: ''Paulus apostolus...'' (Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ...).

This leaf, from a ''portable'' Bible during the period of the Crusades, would have been used in the abstract study of theology or the preaching of the Gospel around the medieval countryside.