Part of a page in the Aberdeen Breviary.
King James IV’s patent for printing in Scotland included 'breviaries after our own Scottish use, and with legends of Scottish saints'.
William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen, commissioned such a liturgical book for use in Scotland. It is known as the Aberdeen Breviary because of Elphinstone’s role, but it was produced in Edinburgh by Chepman and Myllar.
Printing took place from 1508 to 1510. The first volume was finished in February 1510, and the second in June 1510.
Only five copies and a few fragments of the Aberdeen Breviary survive today. We do not know how many copies were printed.
The Aberdeen Breviary contains a calendar with the feast days of Scottish saints, such as St Andrew, St Margaret, St Mungo and St Ninian. It is the first printed calendar of its kind. The breviary also includes daily prayers, hymns and lessons for Scottish priests.
The Library has two complete copies of the Aberdeen Breviary. The copy on display is the second copy, purchased in 2014.
[Library shelfmark: RB.x.002]
