The Genealogy Leaf
One of the earliest surviving pages of Matthew — the line from Abraham to David to Christ — reproduced at true scale on genuine Egyptian papyrus, both sides visible in acrylic.
& 1:14–20
Egypt
Museum
The family tree of Jesus,
copied by an ancient hand.
This leaf opens the Gospel of Matthew with a genealogy — the long, deliberate roll call that carries the promise from Abraham through King David down to Jesus, who is called Christ. The recto preserves Matthew 1:1–9, 12; the verso 1:14–20, where the account turns from names to the angel's words to Joseph and the birth itself.
𝒫1 is one of the earliest surviving witnesses to Matthew, and a key voice in the Alexandrian text tradition — its readings agree closely with the great Codex Vaticanus. Look closely and you can see the scribe's reverence: the sacred names are abbreviated as nomina sacra, marked out from the ordinary words on the page. This is not a book about the faith. It is the faith, in the hand of someone who believed it.
From the evangelist's century to yours
From Abraham to Christ
The two sides of the leaf, side by side.
Matthew 1:1–9, 12
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac… Jesse became the father of King David.”
Matthew 1:14–20
“…Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. … ‘Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife.’”
Made by hand, made to order.
𝒫1's close agreement with Codex Vaticanus makes it a quiet anchor of Gospel textual criticism. It shows that the genealogy opening Matthew — and the birth narrative that follows — was being copied faithfully in Egypt by the mid-third century.
5 out of 5
great product and my buddy travis liked it too
Super high quality! Really amazing to see! Thank you for the good work in creating these!
What an amazing piece of Bible history to be able to hold in your hands! It's such an amazing and tangible item, very impressively crafted to feel like the real thing. Beautifully encased, museum quality display.
Beautiful facsimile’s, they make a great addition to aesthetics
It’s of the highest quality. Definitely the best Father’s Day gift ever.
Common questions
Is the display stand included?
The stand is optional. Choose “Add display stand” (+$20) to have it shown upright as in the photos, or “Replica only” for the framed piece on its own.
Is it really made on papyrus?
Yes — every replica is reproduced on genuine Egyptian papyrus, then set by hand in a front-and-back acrylic display so both sides are visible.
How long does it take to ship?
Each piece is made to order through a multi-week hand-replication process. Your exact timeline is shown at checkout, and we ship to the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Can I see the text translated?
Yes — every leaf has a companion reading page with a full interlinear transcription and translation, letter by letter.
The genealogy of Christ —
on your shelf.
Museum-grade, made to order, and framed to be read from both sides.
