A richly illuminated medieval manuscript containing early versions of the King Arthur, Merlin and Holy Grail legends is expected to fetch up to £2 million when it goes under the hammer at Christie's in July. The tome, which has remained in private hands for more than 700 years, has never been publicly exhibited or comprehensively studied.
Dating from around 1290 to 1310, the manuscript features texts from the Old French Lancelot-Grail cycle, the foundational myths of Arthurian legend. It contains 126 miniature illustrations, including a rare depiction of Merlin as a shape-shifting stag, painted on vellum and decorated with gold leaf.
Only three such manuscripts are known to be held in private collections, according to Dr Eugenio Donadoni, director of medieval and renaissance manuscripts at Christie's. 'Ours is the earliest of the three and the most profusely illustrated. Its text is unique,' he said. The manuscript is thought to be the earliest copy of the Lancelot-Grail cycle ever to appear at auction.
Known as the Lebaudy manuscript, after 20th-century French industrialist Jean Lebaudy, it was produced by the Master of the Liège Apocalypse, an anonymous artist known for his distinctive style. Previous owners include a 15th-century knight and the obsessive bibliophile Sir Thomas Phillipps.
Dr Irene Fabry-Tehranchi, a specialist in French texts at Cambridge University Library, said the sale offered a chance for the manuscript to enter public ownership for the first time. 'It's really exciting. This private ownership of a key medieval manuscript is a real challenge for scholars. It prevents further research, unfortunately,' she said. She noted that the manuscript's ending of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin has been abridged and rewritten, focusing more on Arthur's battles and kingship.
The manuscript will be offered in Christie's valuable books and manuscripts sale on 8 July, with an estimated price of £1.5m to £2m.
