Mäshafä berhan - The Book of Light [1495-1505]

The manuscript is generally in very bad condition. The bookblock - deformed, shrunken in all margins due to water damage. Especially damaged is initial and final part of the book, were the most serious losses of parchment occur. Edges of folios are very weak, brittle, shrunken and in dark-brown colour. A large, brown water stain on the upper margins of all folios is visible. Traces of microbiological infection are visible in this area. Shrinkage of margins caused creases of central part and further destruction of folios. All folios are dusty on all surface, but especially on all margins. The glass-like layer can be observed. A large loss of lower margin in first few quires is visible. The sewing of the book was very weak and was repaired by stab-stitching along the edges of the inner margins of all quires, additionally protected by strips of new parchment. The binding - bare wooden boards, front cover original, back new one.