Brice C. Jones
  • Home
  • Blog
  • CV
  • Publications
  • Papyrological Resources
  • Contact

Coptic Manuscripts for Sale by Sotheby's

12/1/2016

4 Comments

 
A reader of this blog brought to my attention a Christian papyrus fragment written in Coptic that is being auctioned off by Sotheby's on the auction house's website as well as eBay (links below). As it turns out, it is one of two codex fragments being sold by Sotheby's and both stem from "The Bible Collection of Dr. Charles Caldwell Ryrie."
 
Charles Ryrie, who passed away in February 2016, was a biblical scholar and a leading proponent of Christian dispensationalism. In an October press release, Sotheby's announced the sale of his Bible collection, described as “one of the greatest private collections of printed and manuscript Bibles formed since the 19th century.” The sale will take place in New York on December 5 and “will include some 200 lots of manuscripts and printed Bibles.”
 
The two Coptic manuscripts currently listed are as follows.
 
UPCOMING LOT 1. FRAGMENT ON PAPYRUS OF A TEXT CITING THE GOSPEL OF ST MATTHEW, IN COPTIC. [EGYPT, CA. 550-650 AD] [Sotheby's: here; eBay: here]
Sotheby's coptic manuscript
Source: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2016/bible-collection-of-charles-caldwell-ryrie-n09539/lot.1.html
​UPCOMING LOT 3. LEAF FROM THE GOSPEL OF MARK, IN COPTIC. [UPPER EGYPT, C.800-1100 AD] [Sotheby's: here; eBay: here]
Sotheby's coptic manuscript
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2016/bible-collection-of-charles-caldwell-ryrie-n09539/lot.3.html
Further descriptions of each codex fragment can be found at links to the Sotheby's and eBay listings above. If anyone knows further details about these manuscripts – such as provenance, sale/acquisition history, etc. – please feel free to leave a comment below or contact me directly. I would also be grateful to learn where these items ultimately end up. 
4 Comments
David
12/1/2016 11:53:23 am

Do you think that they are legit? I assume so, since you care about where they end up?

Reply
Brice C. Jones link
12/1/2016 12:09:17 pm

Hi David, They are unquestionably authentic. The dates assigned are good, tentative dates.

Reply
Timothy B. Sailors link
12/2/2016 06:50:22 pm

Thanks, Brice! I'd heard of these, but didn't have any of the details until now. Much appreciated.

Reply
Brice C. Jones link
12/3/2016 09:48:38 pm

Thanks, Timothy. I trust all is well.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Brice Jones, New Testament, amulets, Greek
    Available at Amazon!

    Archives

    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    Ancient History
    Book Reviews
    Ebay Antiquities
    Egypt
    Historical Jesus
    Name That NT MS
    New Discovery
    News
    Notes On Papyri
    Online Antiquities
    Online Resources
    Oxyrhynchus
    Palaeography
    Textual Criticism
    Varia

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

Blog
CV
Publications
Papyrological Resources
Contact
© Brice C. Jones 2020. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • CV
  • Publications
  • Papyrological Resources
  • Contact