Printing and imprinting the Missale Nidrosiense: a multidisciplinary investigation of the first printed book of Norway

Chiara Palandri*, Tuuli Kasso*, Aoife Daly, Nina Hesselberg-Wang, Jiří Vnouček, Jan Bill, Heidi Debreczeny Wilkinson, Ljiljana Puskar, Hartmut Kutzke, Sarah Fiddyment, Matthew J. Collins

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

In our study, we employed an interdisciplinary approach to study the diverse parts of the Missale Nidrosiense, published in 1519. Our aim was a thorough investigation of the materials used and the manufacturing methods that may give indications on dating and provenance of the components of the book and where the book was bound. Initially, visual and multispectral methods were employed to investigate the books’ components, printing technology and bookbinding structure. Subsequently, other methods were applied: the composition of metallic components was determined by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). Pigments, printing inks and binders were characterised by using a combination of XRF and synchrotron-based infrared microscopy. Non-invasive dendrochronology based on X-ray tomography was utilised, to indicate date and provenance of the wooden boards of the book. Additionally, we used a biocodicological approach to identify the species of animal used in the parchment. This resulted in a complete biography of the book. We were able to acquire new information about the materials used and their provenance. This provides new information about craft, economy, trade and commercial exchange in the beginning of the sixteenth century in North-west Scandinavia, despite the lack of written documentation from this period.

Original languageEnglish
Article number158
JournalHeritage Science
Volume12
Number of pages18
ISSN2050-7445
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Keywords

  • Baltic oak trade
  • Biocodicology
  • Bookprinting
  • Dendrochronology
  • Norway
  • Provenance

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