Case 21
Christopher De Hamel. Books of Hours: Notes on Two Illuminated Manuscripts in the Alfred and Isabel Reed Collection, Dunedin Public Library. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed for the Dunedin Public Library, 1970.
In 1964, as a schoolboy at King’s High School, Christopher de Hamel (b. 1950) discovered A.H. Reed’s collection of medieval manuscripts displayed in glass cases at the Dunedin Public Library. In those days, framed original leaves hung on the wall of the staircase and could be borrowed – a liberal opportunity from which the young De Hamel benefitted.
As a History undergraduate at the University of Otago, De Hamel wrote his first monograph, published by the Library in 1970. Two years later he began to study twelfth century manuscripts at Oxford. His scholarly reputation led to lengthy employment from 1975 at Sothebys as the expert in illuminated manuscripts. He quickly became one of the world’s pre-eminent merchants and cataloguers of manuscripts, while also writing numerous esteemed books, culminating in the multiple award-winning Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts in 2016.
In his 1973 Descriptive Catalogue of the Library’s manuscripts, De Hamel wrote: “Mr A.H. Reed … is almost entirely responsible for my interest in manuscripts.”
Christopher De Hamel. Books of Hours: Notes on Two Illuminated Manuscripts in the Alfred and Isabel Reed Collection, Dunedin Public Library. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed for the Dunedin Public Library, 1970.
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Christopher De Hamel. A Catalogue of Mediaeval Manuscripts and Printed Bibles in the Alfred and Isabel Reed Collection, Dunedin Public Library. Dunedin: Dunedin Public Library, 1977.
In 1964, as a schoolboy at King’s High School, Christopher de Hamel (b. 1950) discovered A.H. Reed’s collection of medieval manuscripts displayed in glass cases at the Dunedin Public Library. In those days, framed original leaves hung on the wall of the staircase and could be borrowed – a liberal opportunity from which the young De Hamel benefitted.
As a History undergraduate at the University of Otago, De Hamel wrote his first monograph, published by the Library in 1970. Two years later he began to study twelfth century manuscripts at Oxford. His scholarly reputation led to lengthy employment from 1975 at Sothebys as the expert in illuminated manuscripts. He quickly became one of the world’s pre-eminent merchants and cataloguers of manuscripts, while also writing numerous esteemed books, culminating in the multiple award-winning Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts in 2016.
In his 1973 Descriptive Catalogue of the Library’s manuscripts, De Hamel wrote: “Mr A.H. Reed … is almost entirely responsible for my interest in manuscripts.”
Christopher De Hamel. A Catalogue of Mediaeval Manuscripts and Printed Bibles in the Alfred and Isabel Reed Collection, Dunedin Public Library. Dunedin: Dunedin Public Library, 1977.
Open image in new window
Christopher De Hamel. Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts. London: Allen Lane, 2016.
In 1964, as a schoolboy at King’s High School, Christopher de Hamel (b. 1950) discovered A.H. Reed’s collection of medieval manuscripts displayed in glass cases at the Dunedin Public Library. In those days, framed original leaves hung on the wall of the staircase and could be borrowed – a liberal opportunity from which the young De Hamel benefitted.
As a History undergraduate at the University of Otago, De Hamel wrote his first monograph, published by the Library in 1970. Two years later he began to study twelfth century manuscripts at Oxford. His scholarly reputation led to lengthy employment from 1975 at Sothebys as the expert in illuminated manuscripts. He quickly became one of the world’s pre-eminent merchants and cataloguers of manuscripts, while also writing numerous esteemed books, culminating in the multiple award-winning Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts in 2016.
In his 1973 Descriptive Catalogue of the Library’s manuscripts, De Hamel wrote: “Mr A.H. Reed … is almost entirely responsible for my interest in manuscripts.”
