Illustration from a tenth-century manuscript prepared for the Coptic
Christian community in Egypt. © British Library.

Members enjoyed privileged access to this exhibition of important Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy books, the most popular ever mounted by the British Library. Sir Colin Lucas, Chairman of the British Library's Board of Trustees, welcomed the guests to the reception, and Graham Shaw of the British Library, Lead Curator of 'Sacred' and Head of Asia, Pacific and African Collections, introduced the exhibition.

Mr Shaw's talk greatly aided our understanding of the sacred texts of the three traditions, with their particular calligraphy, some illuminated with gold ink. Among the exhibits were manuscripts originally from the Monastery of Saint Catherine, including the famous Codex Sinaiticus. Both convivial and instructive, the evening provided an overview of works from many continents, produced over centuries.