Giant Bible of Saint Maximin

The Giant Bible of Saint Maximin weighs 25 kilograms (55 lb) and measures 80 by 55 centimetres (31 in × 22 in) in width by height when open.

[2] The writing is mainly Caroline minuscule, although the starting and ending of books sometimes use Roman square capitals and uncial script.

[1] The giant bible was produced in the last quarter of the 11th century at its namesake monastery of Saint Maximin in Trier.

It contains liturgy and prayers distinctive of Saint Maximin, as well as a copy of a document of Pope Leo VII excommunicating the monastery's enemies.

It is probably one of the two bibliothece maiores perfecte ("over-sized bibles, with full text") listed in a catalogue of Saint Maximin's book collection from around 1125.

Sometime between 1802, when Saint Maximin was secularized, and 1823, the manuscript was acquired by Leander van Ess, who added his pressmark to the spine.

The purchaser, Philip M. Chancellor, gave it in 1955 to a family in Mexico or Central America, who in turn sold it via Sotheby's on 6 December 1983.

[4] It was finally sold for €4.5 million through Les Enluminures to the National Library of Luxembourg, who announced the acquisition on 5 November 2024.