<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><ead xmlns="urn:isbn:1-931666-22-9" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="urn:isbn:1-931666-22-9 https://www.loc.gov/ead/ead.xsd"><eadheader countryencoding="iso3166-1" dateencoding="iso8601" findaidstatus="completed" langencoding="iso639-2b" repositoryencoding="iso15511"><eadid countrycode="US" mainagencycode="US-ViU" url="https://archives.lib.virginia.edu/ark:/59853/135671">MSS16684</eadid><filedesc><titlestmt><titleproper type="filing">Book of Protection, In Syriac</titleproper><titleproper>Book of Protection, In Syriac <num>MSS 16684</num></titleproper><author>Ellen Welch</author></titlestmt><publicationstmt><publisher>Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library</publisher><p id="logostmt"><extref xlink:actuate="onLoad" xlink:href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/logos/uva-sc.jpg" xlink:show="embed" xlink:type="simple"/></p><p><date>2022-06-29</date></p><address><addressline>Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library</addressline><addressline>P.O. Box 400110</addressline><addressline>University of Virginia</addressline><addressline>Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110</addressline><addressline>URL: <extptr xlink:href="https://small.library.virginia.edu/" xlink:show="new" xlink:title="https://small.library.virginia.edu/" xlink:type="simple"/></addressline></address></publicationstmt></filedesc><profiledesc><creation>This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on <date>2026-03-05 17:42:20 +0000</date>.</creation><langusage>Description is written in: <language langcode="syr" scriptcode="Latn">Syriac, Latin script</language>.</langusage><descrules>Describing Archives: A Content Standard</descrules></profiledesc></eadheader><archdesc level="collection">
  <did>
    <repository>
      <corpname>Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library</corpname>
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    <unittitle>Book of Protection, In Syriac</unittitle>
    <unitid>MSS 16684</unitid>
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    <unitid type="aspace_uri">/repositories/3/resources/1369</unitid>
    <physdesc altrender="whole">
      <extent altrender="materialtype spaceoccupied">0.03 Cubic Feet</extent>
      <extent altrender="carrier">1 letter folder</extent>
      <physfacet>miniature book manuscript</physfacet>
    </physdesc>
    <unitdate datechar="creation" normal="1800/1800">early 19th century[?]</unitdate>
    <physdesc id="aspace_569849f7a28eee910d8e63a01491bae2" label="Condition Description">Good</physdesc>
    <langmaterial>
      <language langcode="syr">Syriac</language>
    </langmaterial>
    <container altrender="Document Box (Letter) = 0.4 cf" id="aspace_0c595101c7c8b810e4d3158584592717" label="Mixed Materials" type="box">BW 42</container>
    <container id="aspace_98f14dc78fd96cf684d499d4af10d98b" parent="aspace_0c595101c7c8b810e4d3158584592717" type="folder">1</container>
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  <accessrestrict id="aspace_b9a922cb780b003e4a44076d5ef1c172">
    <head>Conditions Governing Access</head>
<p>The collection is open for research use.</p>  </accessrestrict>
  <acqinfo id="aspace_5227527fc735f5907c359199ae06f9bc">
    <head>Immediate Source of Acquisition</head>
<p>This collection was purchased from Bernard Quaritch by the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on December 6, 2019.</p>  </acqinfo>
  <prefercite id="aspace_b5d9443b7af43ff183281f24f8a604b9">
    <head>Preferred Citation</head>
<p>MSS 16684, Book of Protection, In Syriac, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.</p>  </prefercite>
  <scopecontent id="aspace_3f3790d0196d3033bf8908315f73abbe">
    <head>Content Description</head>
<p>The book of protection, in Syriac is a scarce and richly-illustrated miniature manuscript compendium of protective charms in Syriac. It contains prayers and incantations invoking saints and others for protection against fear, implements of war, sickness, lunacy, headaches, dogs, and the evil eye, wolves, snakes, scorpions, and much else. </p><p>It is neatly written in a single hand in black and red ink within red borders and contains 19 illustrations to the text.  In contemporary dark brown with original blind-ruled goatskin over pulp boards, with a carrying pouch in contemporary leather with flap. It is a rare example of a Syriac book of protection. It shows how manuscripts can embody folk beliefs and serve as talismans. It also enriches knowledge of book history and Middle Eastern book culture.</p>  </scopecontent>
  <controlaccess>
    <subject authfilenumber="https://lccn.loc.gov/sh85083164" source="lcsh">Traditional medicine</subject>
    <subject source="lcsh">Miniature books.</subject>
  </controlaccess>
  <dsc/>
</archdesc>
</ead>