This is a survey of the finest codices from twelve cntures. The compilation focuses mainly on Europe, with about 23 from Persia, Turkey and India to bear witness to the flowering of oriental (Islamic) manuscript illumination, especially in the 16th century. South America is represented by a pleated manuscript. China and Japan were not included. The Qur'an was also excluded due to their renouncement of pictorial depction imposed by the Islamic religion itself.