Tiny book contains portrait of Henry VIII
A TINY 16th-century golden “girdle book” containing a portrait of Henry VIII will go on display today at the British Library for the first time in at least six years as part of a new exhibition.
Encased in solid gold covers, it contains 13 psalms and was designed to be worn around a woman’s girdle. Only three English girdle books with precious metal covers have survived to the present day, including this one, and two held by the Victoria & Albert Museum.
The book is part of Gold, a new exhibition, which runs until Oct 2, bringing together 50 of the library’s greatest golden or gilded treasures into one exhibition.