In addition to object and figurines, ancient manuscripts and illustrations represent another fascinating area of the antiquities market. From medieval illuminated manuscripts with their distinctive illustrations to ancient texts with exotic lettering, manuscripts can be both intellectually stimulating and aesthetically pleasing. Purchasing a full manuscript can be quite pricey, but it is often possible to purchase one leaf, or two sided page. Of course, once you possess a manuscript or text for a bygone era, it is of course your duty to learn how to read from it, and understand its content. If you would like a catalyst to spur your interest in manuscript, try reading the gripping new novel People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. This work of historical fiction inventively creates a back story for the remarkable manuscript known as the Sarajevo Haggadah.