Beinecke Apocalypse

March 13, 2017

By Raymond Clemens

The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library has acquired an early illustrated copy of Telesphorus of Cosenza’s LIbellus de magnis tribulationibus et de statu ecclesiae.  Telesphorus Liber is a compilation of several earlier apocalyptic traditions brought together by a follower of the fraticelli heresy and updated in 1378 to account for the Great Schism.  The Beiencke Apocalypse is extensively illustrated with red letters explaining the action taking place in the pictures.  This copy was formerly in the collection of Maurice Burrus (1882-1959) and acquired at auction from Christies in 2016.