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O'Neill Library
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(*) The O'Neill Library first floor will remain open for use until 2:00 am.

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Medieval and Premodern History

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Manuscripts: Animals and Nature

This is a short guide to Medieval history focusing on scholarly research and digital primary source collections.

Digital Projects

Aberdeen Bestiary Project
The Aberdeen Bestiary is a 12th century English illuminated manuscript.

Digital Collections of Bestiaries

Artstor's "Bestiaries" or "Book of Beasts"
More that 500 facsimiles of illustrations and illuminations from different bestiaries or "book of beasts" from between 400 and 1700 CE.
Bestiaries on Europeana
Access to digital facsimiles of more than 300 images from different bestiaries, predominately housed in the United Kingdom.
Book of Beasts at the Getty
Digital representation of a 2019 exhibit at the Getty Museum centered around Medieval Books of Beasts (bestiaries). Includes access points for some images and art works representing animals.
Books of Beasts in the British Library: the Medieval Bestiary and its context
Access points for portions of the British Library's Medieval Bestiaries (11-14th centuries), including the Stowe 1067 and Royal 12 F. xiii manuscripts.

Digital Facsimiles of Bestiaries

Ashmole Bestiary (Bodleian Library MS. Ashmole 1511)
Call Number: Digital Bodleian

Publication Date: 1201–1225
Bestiary (Bodleian Library MS. Bodl. 764)
Call Number: Digital Bodleian

Publication Date: 1226–1250
Bestiary (MS Ii.4.26)
Call Number: Cambridge University Digital Library

Publication Date: 1200a
Didactic miscellany, containing a bestiary and other texts (MS Kk.4.25)
Call Number: Cambridge University Digital Library

Publication Date: c. 1230
Le Bestiaire d'amour rimet
Call Number: BnF

Publication Date: 1275-1325

Language: French
Facsimile: Black and White
Excerpts from Bodleian Library MS. Douce 88 by Joachim of Fiore
Call Number: Digital Bodleian

Publication Date: 13th century, end
Yi yu tu zhi (FC.246.5)
Call Number: University of Cambridge Digital Library

Publication Date: 1489

The work is similar in nature to the bestiaries of mediaeval Europe. It contains illustrations of 168 countries or peoples, each with an accompanying text, as well as an appendix which comprises, in addition to a list of 31 further places without illustrations, woodcuts of one bird and 14 animals, each named but without explanatory texts.
Le description philosophale de la nature & condition des oyseaux & de l'inclination & proprieté d'iceux by Jean Ruelle
Call Number: HathiTrust

Publication Date: 1571
Govierno general, moral, y politico : hallado en las fieras y animales sylvestres, sacado de sus naturales virtudes, y propiedades : con particular table para sermones varios de tiempo y de santos by Thomàs Loriente
Call Number: HathiTrust

Publication Date: 1696

Studies of Nature

Aristotle, Libri naturales
Call Number: British Library

Publication Date: 3rd quarter of the 13th century

Harley MS 3487

Last Updated: Jul 31, 2025 10:34 AM
Subjects: English Language & Literature, History, Romance Languages & Literatures

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Hours

Today's Library Hours
Library	Hours
O'Neill Library
Bapst Library
Burns Library
Educational Resource Center
Law Library
Social Work Library
Theology & Ministry Library

(*) The O'Neill Library first floor will remain open for use until 2:00 am.

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