EDITORS: Art available on request.

ANN ARBOR—Bibles and other religious works dating back to the year 119 will be part of the annual exhibit in the University of Michigan’s Special Collections Library.

The exhibit, “From Papyri to King James: The Evolution of the English Bible,” includes materials written on papyrus, parchment, and paper that led to the English translation of 1611 known as the King James Bible. The earliest known copy of the letters of St. Paul is included.

The Special Collections Library exhibit, “From Papyri to King James: The Evolution of the English Bible,” includes selected materials such as (from far left clockwise) one leaf of the Guttenberg or 42 Line Bible, Mainz, Germany; a King James Bible, dated 1611; the earliest known copy of one letter of the Epistles of Paul; and the Book of Hours, mid 15th century.

A number of distinguished documents marking significant milestones in the history of biblical text are also on display. These documents, spread across nations, peoples and languages, trace the development of the Bible from ancient manuscripts to early printed books.

Fragments on papyri from Deuteronomy and Matthew, portions from several of the letters of Paul and writings of early church leaders such as Melito, the Bishop of Sardis, and Hermas of Rome are all shown in the exhibit. Also included are medieval versions of Jerome’s Latin translation of the Bible of 404, first appearances in print of the Greek and Latin biblical texts, and early translations into English.

Many of the Bibles will be opened to the same passage, providing an opportunity to compare translations and to observe developments in languages, handwriting and type designs. The exhibit illustrates the development of codex and presents a brief study of 16th-century English political history.

The free exhibit will be displayed in the Special Collections Library on the seventh floor of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library on U-M’s Central Campus from Nov. 27, through Feb. 2, 2002. The Library and exhibit will be closed Dec. 22 through Jan. 1 and Jan. 5.

[Central Campus map, Hatcher Library lower left center]

The exhibit can be viewed from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays. Guided tours are available for groups by appointment only. To arrange a tour, call (734) 764-9377.