Papyrus 52 (P52) Manuscript Replica | Early New Testament Fragment | Reversible Front and Back Framed Display

Papyrus 52 (𝒫52), also known as the John Rylands Papyrus, is an early second-century Greek manuscript fragment of the Gospel of John, written on papyrus and preserved on both sides of a single leaf. The surviving text contains portions of John 18:31–33 on one side and John 18:37–38 on the other, recording part of the exchange between Jesus and Pontius Pilate. Dated by paleographic analysis to approximately AD 125–150, this manuscript is widely regarded as one of the earliest extant witnesses to a New Testament writing and a foundational artifact of early Christianity.

This museum-quality facsimile is designed as both Bible manuscript art and a historically informed biblical artifact display. It is produced through an intensive, multi-week process focused on faithfully replicating the original P52 manuscript. Careful attention is given to scale, layout, line spacing, Greek letterforms, and material appearance, resulting in a reproduction that closely reflects the visual character of the ancient papyrus fragment while remaining suitable for modern Christian decor and study.

The manuscript is professionally presented in an 8×10 black frame with protective glass, using a floating display that allows the papyrus replica to be viewed from either side. The frame can be flipped to reveal both sides of the manuscript, mirroring the way the original fragment preserves text on the front and back of a single papyrus leaf. A small plaque is included on each side of the frame, identifying the visible passage:
Front: “P52, John 18:31–33”
Back: “P52, John 18:37–38”