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Welcome to LETTERATA!

LETTERATA is the publishing site for Carol Nichols, a Midwest-based author, calligrapher, watercolorist and book designer. Carol's most recent work is An Illustrated and Illuminated Manuscript of the Gospel of Thomas, a unique calligraphic offering that brings the ancient text to life over a millennium after its last known publication.

This 2010 work is based on an original, one-of-a-kind manuscript created in 2006. The original was finished in the style of a Medieval copyist, and is the first published, manuscript treatment of the Gospel of Thomas in 1,600 years. Written completely by hand using fourth century Greek Uncials and twelfth century Chancery Italic letterforms, the book is illustrated with more than 65 watercolor paintings and 45 gold illuminations in 23K goldleaf. The translation of the Gospel of Thomas from the original Coptic is by Dr. Marvin Meyer of Chapman University, from his book, The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus.
(copyright, 2005 - pp. 7-25, translation for the published copies reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers)

Copies for sale are excellent reproductions of Carol's original work. The fine-quality hardcover copies have a cloth surface with an embossed insert. The text blocks are sewn, and the books are presented with an attractive dust cover. There are only 1,000 copies available in this limited edition! Each copy is numbered and signed by the artist, with the option to include a personalized message from Carol to the recipient.

Note: An earlier, unpublished work by Diane George of the United Kingdom was completed in 2004. Her book was done in the style of the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels, and resides in the library at St. David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, Wales. For more information on Ms. George's work, please see Related Sites.

The original manuscript inside its case