The beginning of the page refers to the Generations of Adam, a concept found in the book of Genesis, 5:1, stating Adam’s line of descent going through until Seth. Bible and Books of Hours are the most common surviving type of manuscript, but each copy was unique. As a result, books of this type offer some of the most interesting examples of medieval calligraphy and decorative practice. A rare example of a leaf produced in Britain from the 13th century.
To find out more about Medieval manuscripts please see our relevant blog post: Illuminated Manuscripts and Vellum Pages.