Sotheby's will sell a rare illuminated early 14th Century manuscript titled “Sydrach and Boctus” or “The fountain of sciences” produced in Arras, northern France, on December 5th 2000 in London. Accompanied with a prestigious provenance- it belonged to Marcel Janson, a French collector- this manuscript was one of the most popular works during the Middle Age period. It carries a pre-sale estimate of £ 500,000 to 700,000 but may fetch a surprising price after all especially as Sotheby's fared well last July with the sale of the “Monypenny Breviary” that fetched a record £ 3,3 million (US $ 4,342 million).
The “Sydrach”, written in vernacular language, was reportedly produced at the end of the 13th Century by Jean-Pierre of Lyons, shortly after the fall of Antioch in 1268 or that of Acre in 1291. Some 40 manuscripts of the mystical “Sydrach” have survived but none has been offered for sale in many years.
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