Sotheby's London to offer an extraordinary mid-14th century manuscript in the Welsh language

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Kept in America, the manuscript returns to Britain for the first time in over 150 years. Photo: Sotheby's. LONDON.- On Tuesday, 10th July 2012, Sotheby’s London will offer an extraordinary mid-14th century manuscript written in Medieval Welsh — a language of near-legendary rarity — within its sale of Western Manuscripts and Miniatures. Almost certainly brought to America by Welsh settlers in the 1700s, it ranks among the earliest medieval manuscripts in that country. The sale in London marks its return to Britain for the first time in at least a century and a half. It is the earliest manuscript of its kind ever offered in a public sale and the first medieval manuscript in Welsh to come to the market since 1923. The manuscript is estimated at £500,000-700,000.* The Laws of Hywel Dda are attributed to Howel the Good, king of Wales (c.880-950). Partly derived from ancient Celtic and Irish justice systems, his laws are exceptionally liberal for their time: they focus on just restitution for crimes rather than violent pu ... More