The Skara Missal
Skara

Sweden’s oldest book

The Skara Missal, a medieval liturgical book and Sweden’s oldest book, is on display in the exhibition. The book dates back to 1150. It is handwritten in Latin, in folio format, and bound in two volumes, one of which is beautifully illuminated.

One book becomes two

From the original appr. 300 parchment sheets, only 44 remain today (88 pages). The book originally only constituted one volume, but during the 13^th or 14^th century, it was divided into two. Tree-ring dating (dendrochronology) has concluded that the wooden covers were made from trees growing in Västergötland during the second half of the 13^th century.

The exhibition about the Skara Missal is found in the old library in Skara, in the same premises as Bokäventyret (The Book adventure).