Beer/Ale antiquities, manuscripts?

I'm looking for a unique gift for a friend who brews. I'd like very much to find a brewing manuscript, or even just a recipe page, from antiquity. 1800s, 1600s, I don't *particularly* care, but I can't find anything suitable or even close online. Even a museum print would be fine.

So...does anyone have or know where to get an old latin manuscript from a trappist monastery?

This is actually a really cool idea. I'd be interested as well.

aangel you sound like an amazing friend! I too would be interested if you run across something.

On that note if your not married ... and female ... and if my wife doesn't mind the company ... I jest I jest!

Few items I found on the bay.

1948 Guiness book..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guinness-Vi...ollectables_Breweriana_SM&hash=item35c37f554b

Brewery Billhead
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brewery-Bil...968?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d8182f10

Brewery Letterhead (lots of this floating on ebay)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/189O-S-LEIS...928?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53f341d310

Wooden Keg with Brewery names
http://www.ebay.com/itm/L-SCHLATHER...445?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item589ac83a55

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1890s-C-J-M...453?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27cef1379d

Old Keg Valves
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-VINTAG...950?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c3805806

Bring Back Beer Pin
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bring-Back-...782?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51a6c7ff06

Mother of Pearl Openers (lots of these as well on ebay. different condition)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRE-PRO-PIT...814?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d819342e

Ebling Breweriana, Ebling Brewery Journal with Formula's and Documents
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ebling-Brew...373?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d82f2f5d

1874 Temperance Book.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1874-RARE-T...t=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item4d08954cd0

Good Luck. Probably will have to look on a European site for older beer related items as most of the American Breweries were just getting going on the late 1800s. Then you have to deal with shipping across seas.

Very cool idea, perhaps you could talk to my wife, I've got a birthday coming up!

You could reproduce a famous recipe, for instance George Washington's "small beer.", While Washington may not be your cup of tea, I'm sure you could find others. Another idea would be to print a high quality photo of brewing instructions found in Egyptian hieroglyphs or perhaps a sumerian tablet.

Good luck finding it, I would love to see what you decide on.