Note by Samuel Woodburn from BL Add 24189, f. 1
Note by Samuel Woodburn on the provenance of the manuscript, relating that he had purchased it from 'M. Pesch', who had reportedly acquired it in Rome from a monk. Image taken from f. 1 of Illustrations for Man... More
Mandeville from BL Add 24189, f. 4
John Mandeville at work at his desk, writing the ~Voyage d'outre mer~. Image taken from f. 4 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
The burial of Adam from BL Add 24189, f. 13v
Miniature of the burial of Adam, with Seth placing the seeds of the tree of knowledge in his mouth. Image taken from f. 13v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Constantinople from BL Add 24189, f. 9v
Miniature of the city of Constantinople, with a large statue of Emperor Justinian standing before the cathedral of St Sophia. Image taken from f. 9v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'out... More
Hungary from BL Harley 3954, f. 2v
Coloured drawings of the way to Jerusalem from England: here, the Danube River in Hungary. Image taken from f. 2v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscri... More
Annunciation to the Shepherds from BL Harley 3954, f. 14
Coloured drawing of the Annunciation to the Shepherds. Image taken from f. 14 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The Annunciation is a biblical event in which the angel Gab... More
Constantinople from BL Harley 3954, f. 6v
Coloured drawings depicting the wonders of Constantinople: Greek philosophers working in the highest hills of Macedonia, and tournaments at the palace of the Emperor in Constantinople. Image taken from f. 6v of... More
Griffins from BL Harley 3954, f. 54v
Coloured drawing depicting Sir John Mandeville witnessing the griffins of Bacharia. Image taken from f. 54v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" r... More
The tomb of Aristotle from BL Add 24189, f. 6v
Miniature of the tomb of Aristotle on an island, in front of the town of Stagira, with pilgrims making offerings on an altar in the foreground. In the background is a ruined city, representing Troy. Image taken... More
Pygmies from BL Harley 3954, f. 43
Coloured drawing depicting the pygmies of Dondun Island, who eat through a straw. Spaces reserved for illustration have been left blank throughout the manuscript. Image taken from f. 43 of Travels (index Voyag... More
Mandeville setting out on his journey from BL Add 24189, f. 3v
Miniature of John Mandeville setting out on his journey, in a boat with other travellers. Image taken from f. 3v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Seth from BL Add 24189, f. 13 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Miniature of Seth, at the gates of Paradise, receiving from an angel a cutting of three seeds of the tree of knowledge. Image taken from f. 13 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer... More
The landmarks of Cyprus from BL Add 24189, f. 5
Miniature of the island of Cyprus with, above, the hill of the Holy Cross with the cross of Dismas the Good Thief, the tomb of Sozomenos, and a vineyard and, below, a merchant ship docking at the port of Famagu... More
The tomb of Hermes Trismegistus from BL Add 24189, f. 7
Miniature of the discovery of the tomb of Hermes Trismegistus. Image taken from f. 7 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
The king of France with the spearhead from BL Add 24189, f. 10
Miniature of the king of France, above, holding the head of the spear of Longinus and approached by three men holding a fleur-de-lis banner and, below, the Roman emperor, holding the head of the spear of Longin... More
Inflammation from BL Harley 3954, f. 32
Detail of a coloured drawing depicting the Island of Crues near the Kingdom of Ind, where the heat is so great that men suffer from genital inflammation. Image taken from f. 32 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre ... More
City from BL Harley 3954, f. 44v
Drawing depicting Cassay, a Christian stronghold known as the "City of Heaven," near Cathay. Image taken from f. 44v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manus... More
Pope John XXII from BL Add 24189, f. 7v
Miniature of Pope John XXII, enthroned and surrounded by cardinals, receiving the rejection by the Greek church of his claims to supremacy. Image taken from f. 7v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (inde... More
Mandeville from BL Add 24189, f. 9
Miniature of John Mandeville beside a riverbank, travelling to Constantinople, surrounded by other travellers both on land and in a boat. Image taken from f. 9 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index V... More
Gerfaunts from BL Harley 3954, f. 61
Coloured drawing depicting the gerfaunts in the land of Prester John ("Ind"). Image taken from f. 61 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to... More
Idol worship from BL Harley 3954, f. 36v
Detail of a coloured drawing depicting idol worship and blood-sacrifice at the church of Calamye. Image taken from f. 36v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley ... More
Samson from BL Add 24189, f. 16v
Miniature of Samson carrying the gates of Gaza, watched from the city walls by armoured soldiers and, at a window, Delilah. Image taken from f. 16v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outr... More
The emperor of Byzantium with the spearhead from BL Add 24189, f. 10v
Miniature of the Byzantine emperor holding the head of the spear of Longinus, seated next to the 'enhydros stone' in Constantinople, depicted as a group of jugs pouring out water. Image taken from f. 10v of Ill... More
Mandeville from BL Add 24189, f. 4v
Miniature of John Mandeville on shore, travelling to Constantinople, surrounded by other travellers both on land and in a boat. Image taken from f. 4v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'o... More
Tournament from BL Add 24189, f. 15v
Miniature of a tournament in Constantinople, with jousting, watched by the Byzantine emperor. Image taken from f. 15v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Description of the manuscript by Gustav Friedrich Waagen from BL Add 2...
Transcription of the description of the manuscript, made while the book was in Samuel Woodburn's possession, by Gustav Friedrich Waagen, as published in 1838 by John Samuel Murray. Image taken from f. 2 of Illu... More
Cynocephales from BL Harley 3954, f. 41
Coloured drawings depicting the dog-headed people ("Cynocephales") of Nacumera Island. Image taken from f. 41 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" ... More
Feathered men from BL Harley 3954, f. 64
Coloured drawings depicting feathered men in the lands of Prester John, and the keepers of orchards with fruit that brings long life. Image taken from f. 64 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). W... More
Sardenak from BL Harley 3954, f. 24
Coloured drawing depicting the holy site of Sardenak, near Damascus, where a miraculous image of the Virgin is housed. Image taken from f. 24 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in Engli... More
Sciopod from BL Harley 3954, f. 31
Coloured drawing depicting mythical people of Ethiopia born with only one foot (a sciopod), to shade them from the sun. Image taken from f. 31 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in Engl... More
Death rites from BL Harley 3954, f. 67v
Detail of a coloured drawing depicting the death rites of Rybothe Island. Image taken from f. 67v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a ... More
Presentation of the crown of thorns from BL Add 24189, f. 14
Miniature of the crown of thorns being presented to the king of France, probably King Louis IX. Image taken from f. 14 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Presentation of the Passion relics from BL Add 24189, f. 11
Miniature of clerics in Constantinople presenting to an emperor the relics of Christ's passion: his robe, crown of thorns, cross, and vineagar sponge. Image taken from f. 11 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Tr... More
Christ before Pilate from BL Add 24189, f. 12v
Miniature of Christ being beaten with rods and crowned with thorns before Pilate. Image taken from f. 12v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Christ crowned with thorns in Gethsemane from BL Add 24189, f. 14v
Miniature of Christ being crowned with thorns in the garden of Gethsemane. Image taken from f. 14v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Christ before Caiaphas from BL Add 24189, f. 12
Miniature of Christ being crowned with thorns before Caiaphas. Image taken from f. 12 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
The tombs of John Chrysostom, Luke, and Anne from BL Add 24189, f. 6
Miniature of the tombs of John Chrysostom, Luke the Evangelist, and Anne. Image taken from f. 6 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Elijah and the apostles John and James the Less from BL Add 24189, f. ...
Miniature of the prophet Elijah, above, being fed by a raven on Mt Carmel and, below, the apostles John and James the Less, seated before their church in Sephoris. Image taken from f. 8v of Illustrations for Ma... More
Coloured drawing from BL Harley 3954, f. 1
Coloured drawing depicting Sir John Mandeville setting out on his adventures. Image taken from f. 1 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to ... More
Description of the manuscript by Gustav Friedrich Waagen from BL Add 2...
Transcription of the description of the manuscript, made while the book was in Samuel Woodburn's possession, by Gustav Friedrich Waagen, as published in 1838 by John Samuel Murray. Image taken from f. 2v of Ill... More
Coloured drawing from BL Harley 3954, f. 13v
Sir John Mandeville meditates on the Church of St. Nicholas in Bethlehem, where the Virgin Mary milked her overflowing breasts onto red marble stones. Image taken from f. 13v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Me... More
Assembly of the cross from BL Add 24189, f. 11v
Miniature of the assembly of Christ's cross, from four different types of wood, depicted in different colours. Image taken from f. 11v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Text from BL Harley 3954, f. 9 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Text page. Image taken from f. 9 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the British Library in... More
Thomas from BL Harley 3954, f. 36
Coloured drawings depicting the bearded women of Ind and the tomb of Thomas ("Doubting Thomas"), with the relic of his hand. Image taken from f. 36 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in... More
Glassmaking from BL Add 24189, f. 16
Miniature of workers, above, mining the pit of Memnon for sand for glassmaking and, below, a glassblower and other craftsmen in a glassmaking workshop. Image taken from f. 16 of Illustrations for Mandeville's T... More
Land of the Tartars from BL Harley 3954, f. 24v
Detail of a coloured drawing of hardship and horrors in the land of the Tartars. Image taken from f. 24v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refer... More
Text page from BL Harley 3954, f. 21v
Text page. Image taken from f. 21v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the British Library ... More
Travellers to Tyre and Jaffa from BL Add 24189, f. 8
Miniature of travellers, arriving, above, by sea at Tyre and, below, on land at Jaffa. Image taken from f. 8 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Recreation in Cyprus from BL Add 24189, f. 5v
Miniature of recreation in Cyprus with, above, a deer hunt using leopards and, below, a feast. Image taken from f. 5v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Tent from BL Harley 3954, f. 50
Coloured drawing depicting the Great Chan served in his tent. Image taken from f. 50 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection o... More
Dragon from BL Harley 3954, f. 8v
Coloured drawing depicting the dragon-daughter of King Ypocras, and the knights who tried to break the spell enchanting her. Image taken from f. 8v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written i... More
Constantinople from BL Harley 3954, f. 3
Coloured drawings depicting Sir John Mandeville as a witness to foreign marvels, here: the city of Constantinople Image taken from f. 3 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. T... More
Inflammation from BL Harley 3954, f. 32
Coloured drawing depicting the Island of Crues near the Kingdom of Ind, where the heat is so great that men suffer from genital inflammation. Image taken from f. 32 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinera... More
Amazons from BL Harley 3954, f. 30
Coloured drawings depicting the costume of the Chaldeans and the origin of the Amazons. Image taken from f. 30 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript"... More
The Ark from BL Harley 3954, f. 29
Coloured drawings of Noah's Ark, resting on the mountain of Taneez, and the story of a monk that brought one plank down to house in a church at the foot of the mountain. Image taken from f. 29 of Travels (index... More
Dragon from BL Harley 3954, f. 8v
Detail of a coloured drawing depicting the dragon-daughter of King Ypocras, and the knights who tried to break the spell enchanting her. Image taken from f. 8v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium)... More
King of Ind from BL Harley 3954, f. 35
Detail of a coloured drawing depicting the King of Ind giving blessing to vessels of ox urine, to be further used in rites. Image taken from f. 35 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in ... More
Image from BL Harley 3954, f. 3v
Image taken from f. 3v of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the British Library in London. T... More
Mandeville from BL Harley 3954, f. 2
Coloured drawings illustrating the Prologue: Sir John Mandeville sets off on his travels to Jerusalem and beyond. Image taken from f. 2 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. T... More
Otto von Diemeringen from BL Add 24189, f. 3
Miniature of Canon Otto von Diemeringen at work at his desk, translating the ~Voyage d'outre mer~ into German. Image taken from f. 3 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).
Palace from BL Harley 3954, f. 46
Coloured drawing depicting the Palace of the Great Chan. Image taken from f. 46 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medi... More
Cannibals from BL Harley 3954, f. 40
Coloured drawing depicting cannibals near the Isle of Java; and the men of Milke Island, who fight for sport. Image taken from f. 40 of Travels (index Voyage d'Outre Mer, Itinerarium). Written in English. The ... More
Astronomers from BL Add 24189, f. 15
Miniature of astronomers on Mt Athos, above, studying the stars with astrolabes and quadrants and, below, inscribing strange characters in the dust with sticks. Image taken from f. 15 of Illustrations for Mande... More
Puzzle initial from BL Add 33757, f. 2
Puzzle initial 'C'(omme) with partial border. Image taken from f. 2 of Travels (index: Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium). Written in French.
Puzzle initial from BL Eg 672, f. 62v
Puzzle initial. Image taken from f. 62v of Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium). Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617), 1st V... More