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he seed that grew into Facsimile Editions was sown one Sunday afternoon in the late 1970's. Michael Falter, the third generation of a family who had worked in the printing industry since the late 1800's, was strolling in the King's Library in London. He thought how he would love to be able to reproduce one of the manuscript treasures on display so that he could study it in its entirety, and at his leisure, rather than just peruse the two pages behind glass in the Museum.

He made enquiries and was fortunate to receive the help and guidance of Dr David Patterson, President of the Oxford Centre for Postgraduate Hebrew Studies. A short while later he met Linda, and on their second date Michael and Linda went to Oxford to see Ron May, Assistant Curator of Hebrew manuscripts at the Bodleian Library.

There they were shown and overwhelmed by the famous Kennicott Bible and, shortly after, in1980, they formed Facsimile Editions which was to be dedicated to bringing out of obscurity some of the finest and most important illuminated manuscripts in the world and reproducing them to a standard hitherto unknown in the history of publishing. They would strive to recreate not only the appearance of the originals but also the overall aura of the manuscript.

It took them more than five years to produce their first facsimile, the Kennicott Bible, on completion of which the Bodleian Library was moved to write: "We know of no way in which Facsimile Editions could have done more to seek out all that is finest in contemporary craftsmanship in order to reproduce as nearly exactly as possible the colours of the miniatures in the original manuscript and the quality and texture of all the materials used herein.

The Librarian at Trinity College, Dublin on receipt of their facsimile commented, "I write to let you know how honoured we are to acquire such a magnificent work, which must indeed rank with the finest facsimiles in publishing history... . It will form part of our permanent collection which is renowned throughout the world of scholarship."

Since then they have acted as consultants to the United States Library of Congress and on the 31st March 1992 were honoured by Sr. Mauricio Hatchwell Toledano who invited us to the presentation of the facsimile of the Alba Bible to His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain and President Chaim Herzog of Israel at a special ceremony at the Pardo Palace in Madrid.

Presentation of the Alba Bible Facsimile, 31st March 1992
L to R: Duke of Alba, President Herzog, Queen Sofia, King Juan Carlos I,
Linda Falter, Mrs M. Hatchwell Toledano and Michael Falter.

Seven books and eighteen years later, enthusiasm from the world's leading collecting libraries and private collectors remains undiminished. Each new publication is awaited with anticipation and greeted with praise. Every original manuscript poses its own unique problems which are surmounted one by one in order to produce a faithful copy that never compromises the quality of the original in any way.

The finest materials and craftsmen are sought and used for the 550 copies of each limited edition. Specially milled paper is made to replicate each manuscript so as to capture the "feel" of the original. Gold and silver metal leaf are applied by hand to raised and flat surfaces. Every detail of the original, no matter how small, is faithfully reproduced by craftsmen who are prepared to collaborate in the Falter's quest for the highest quality.

Facsimile Editions set out to make reproductions that would be worthy of the original exquisite Hebrew illuminated manuscripts and eighteen years on remain ever true to their objective. Their books are, and will be, used and enjoyed for many generations thereby preserving the rich cultural heritage of times gone by.

Exhibiting the Kennicott Bible in Jerusalem

" ... our first duty is to save Hebrew literature. There are thousands of Hebrew manuscripts lying idle in various libraries ... many of them have vanished in the darkness of the past or have been destroyed by the wrath of oppressors ...
I do not think that it will be possible to acquire ... the original manuscripts, but their reproductions ... will have the same practical value as the manuscripts themselves ...".

David Ben Gurion
Prime Minister of Israel
5th March, 1950

The magnificent volumes published by Facsimile Editions can be obtained from your specialist Facsimile Book supplier - e-mail - finns@finns-books.com..

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