Rare King Arthur manuscript, privately held for 700 years, goes on sale at a significant price
A rare illuminated manuscript, the Clermont-Tonnerre Grail, is set to be auctioned this July and expected to fetch between £1.5 million ( million) and £2 million (.7 million). This 700-year-old document features early narratives of the legendary tales of King Arthur and Merlin, making it a significant piece of Western literary history.
Dating back to the late 13th or early 14th century, the manuscript has been in private ownership for centuries. It has garnered attention as one of the earliest known documents chronicling the Arthurian legends and the quest for the Holy Grail. Written on vellum, the manuscript is adorned with 126 gold-leaf illustrations, showcasing artistic depictions of key characters and scenes from the legendary tales.
The manuscript is part of a Valuable Books and Manuscripts auction at Christie’s, with the planned sale date set for July 8. Auction house representatives note that the tome contains Old French text from the Lancelot-Grail cycle, an important series of stories that have influenced literature and culture throughout the centuries.
Eugenio Donadoni, director of medieval and renaissance manuscripts at Christie’s, highlighted that this manuscript has never before been publicly exhibited or subjected to detailed scholarly study, which only adds to its allure for potential bidders. The combination of its historical significance and aesthetic appeal makes it a centerpiece of cultural heritage.
Donadoni describes the Clermont-Tonnerre Grail as “virtually unknown,” yet poised to attract significant interest due to its rarity and connection to foundational texts in Western literature. Only three similar manuscripts remain in private collections, and this is the earliest of the known works.
The provenance of the manuscript traces back to several notable figures throughout history, including a 15th-century knight and a 20th-century industrialist, Jean Lebaudy. Such rich ownership history enhances its collectible status.
Experts speculate that interest in the manuscript will extend to both institutions and private collectors, each drawn to its multifaceted significance — historic, textual, and artistic. With a narrative centered on chivalry, quests, and the complexities of human experience, the legendary tales encapsulated in this manuscript are likely to draw considerable attention when it goes under the hammer.
As the auction date approaches, anticipation is building around what is expected to be one of the most notable manuscript sales in recent history.
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