Medieval manuscript saved for the nation

A rare medieval manuscript threatened with exile abroad has been bought by the UK's leading library for the history of medicine and is available to the public today for the first time in almost 550 years.

The 15th century physician's handbook (1454) has been bought by the Wellcome Trust's Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, who stepped in to purchase the manuscript while it was under the order of a temporary export ban by the Arts Minister, Baroness Blackstone.

The previous owner, a rare books dealer, was planning to send the book abroad but an export ban was issued as it is considered too precious to be lost overseas. The Wellcome Trust intervened and bought the book for £210,000 (including a £10,000 grant from the Government's Prism fund), saving it for the nation and taking it out of private hands for the first time in its history.

Dr Richard Aspin, Acting Head of Special Collections at the Wellcome Library, said: "This acquisition is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the first time the public will have access to this manuscript. Its appeal not only lies in its rarity, but in the remarkable and clear insight provided into the practice of a medieval physician.

"Although not a lavish book, it was obviously owned by a wealthy medieval practitioner who valued it both as a handbook and an artifact, hence the decorative use of gold leaf which is as striking today as it would have been in 1454. It is intriguing that so much effort and money has gone into producing what is essentially a doctor's manual, but we know that medieval medicine could be a lucrative business. Look at Chaucer's physician in the Canterbury Tales - he had a penchant for gold!"

Written entirely in Middle English, the 200 page illustrated manuscript depicts the importance of astrology in the practices of a medieval physician. Accompanying the text are numerous tables and calendars which would have been used by the physician to calculate the best time to administer medical treatments according to a patient's date of birth.

A second feature of the book is an account of how to make a pilgrimage from London to Jerusalem, a unique addition which provides a fascinating account of 15th century Christianity and travel.