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Single Quire Codex

Single Quire Codex

What is a codex? A codex is essentially an ancient book, consisting of one or more quires of sheets of papyrus or parchment folded together to form a group of leaves, or pages. This form of the book was not widely used in the ancient world until around the second century AD, when it slowly but steadily began to replace the traditional book form, the papyrus roll. Click the link below for more info!

http://www.lib.umich.edu/reading/Paul/codex.html

 

What is a quire? A quire is typically defined as four sheets of paper or parchment folded to form eight leaves, as in medieval manuscripts, any collection of leaves one within another in a manuscript or book, or more specifically 25 (formerly 24) sheets of paper; one twentieth of a ream. That being said, it varies. In the early days you could have 2 or 20; later on 4 becomes the standard.

Read more about the components of a codex and more here!

http://www.encasedinsteel.co.uk/2012/03/23/folia-quires-codices-and-manuscripts-what-are-they/

Background of the Codex: A codex (Latin for block of wood, book; plural codices) is a book in the format used for modern books, with separate pages normally bound together and given a cover. Although the modern book is technically a codex, the term is used only for manuscripts. The codex was a Roman invention that replaced the scroll, which was the first book form in all Eurasian cultures. The codex began to replace the scroll almost as soon as it was invented. In Egypt, by the fifth century, the codex outnumbered the scroll by ten to one based on surviving examples. By the sixth century, the scroll had almost vanished as a medium for literature.

While this page is about Single Quire Codices in particular, these codices can be expanded into multi-quire codices! Read below for more about Multi-Quire Codices!

Multi-Quire Codex

To read more about the materials that make up these quires, read more about Parchment below!

Parchment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr0rnKXefrU

Appenzell, Landesarchiv Appenzell Innerrhoden, E.10.02.01.01: Silver Book of the Land (www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/list/one/laai/E-10-02-01-01)
Appenzell, Landesarchiv Appenzell Innerrhoden, E.10.02.01.01: Silver Book of the Land (www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/list/one/laai/E-10-02-01-01)

 

Work Cited

Arduini, Franca, and Guglielmo Cavallo. The Shape of the Book, from Roll to Codex (3rd Century BC-              19th Century AD). Firenze: Mandragora, 2008. Print.
"Codex." - New World Encyclopedia. N.p., 01 June 2013. Web. 01 June 2016.
Howdidyoumakethis. "Codex Book Binding - Preparing the Codex." YouTube. YouTube, 27 Feb.                 2013. Web. 24 May 2016.
Http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqa5Flt8HHRRPEj8hNNaXAw. "Quire Meaning." YouTube.                 YouTube, 14 Apr. 2015. Web. 24 May 2016.
"P46: What Is a Codex?" P46: What Is a Codex? N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2016.
Turner, E. G. The Typology of the Early Codex. Philadelphia: U of Pennsylvania, 1977. Print.

3 thoughts on “Single Quire Codex

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  2. MagisterP

    This is a wonderful resource for students and teachers alike! Unfortunately, the video link is unavailable. Is it possible to reupload the video or point us in the direction of a similar one? Thank you!

    Reply

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