Currently on show in the new exhibition case in the Special Collections Department foyer on level 12 of the University Library are two medieval versions of the Apocalypse, or Book of Revelation. The books are both from the eighteenth century library of William Hunter.

On display is a hand coloured blockbook produced in the Netherlands in about 1430, acknowledged to be one of the greatest achievements of the medieval woodcutter's art. Its companion is a beautifully illuminated manuscript copy of the text, produced in southern France in the late fifteenth century. A work renowned for its complexity and bizarre symbolism, both books are opened at vivid illustrations of the seven headed beast.

The books will be on display in the Special Collections foyer until early June.

For more information and images from the blockbook version, see also the current Special Collections 'book of the month' at Book of the Month

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First published: 21 April 2005