Written on vellum, later on expensive paper, and with a sharpened quill, characters were drawn along nearly invisible guide lines. From the approximately 600 to 800a.d., "illuminated" texts were the focus of many monks work. This texts had paragraphs and sections noted and differentiated with enlarged and stylized lettering or color markings. More importantly to the defintion of and illuminated book, was the fact that they were bound, with the pages complete and sewn together, into animal skin covers. The protective, often sheep-skin covering was itself a decorated masterpiece, with tooled leather and beautiful designs. Often, gold inlay was set in gorgeous patterns and lines, making the book a work of art more than a referance or a belonging. There was no title page in a manuscript, nor was the copier's name written across the front. The occupation of a monk's hands for months or years was a simple matter of faith, demonstrated by the finished product: a book crafted with love and its beauty a testament to the creator's praise.
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