Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century
Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century
Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century
Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century
Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century
Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century
Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century
Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century

Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century

Winning Bid: $17,100

Illuminated Manuscript, Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century:

[BOOK OF HOURS.] Manuscript, Illuminated Book of Hours, c. 15th-16th Century, in Latin. 12mo (7 1/8 x 5 3/8 in.). Full brown blindstamped morocco; center of both covers with a figure of Jesus, bordered by a vining pattern, blocked by linear borders embellished at each corner with four roses, three scalloped shapes along the spine. There are five raised bands to the spine, interspersed with foliate decorations, and “HORAE” is stamped in gold at the head of the spine. The front inner border of the binding has a gilt mark: “P. Claessens Fils,” 19th c. Belgian bookbinder. All edges gilt. (Note: a penciled notation on the pastedown states the manuscript is 14th c.) The manuscript comprises 34 illuminated vellum leaves (6 7/8 x 5 in.), which include 11 large and eight smaller miniatures, with illuminated initials throughout, in gold, red, and blue. The larger miniatures are in rectangular-framed compartments; the smaller miniatures are in square-framed compartments. Text is in dark brown ink in a gothic liturgical hand, with rubrics in red. There are about eight pages with marginalia. Overall condition appears to be Good. Binding is very good and shows little wear; a small crack in the leather at the top hinge. Previous owner’s bookplate on pastedown. Leaf 21 has a repair with two strips of vellum at the lower inner corner. There is toning/foxing, soiling, several leaves with slight wrinkles. There’s a dampstain on leaf 7 (and/or smear of color), and a narrow dampstain along top of leaves 9-16 and 31-34, and a small one at top near binding on leaves 22-27. The leaves have some wear and fading/loss of color, mostly to the foliate borders around the images. There are a few pinprick wormholes, and a few larger ones on leaves 12-14; a 1/2-in. tear on leaf 14; and a 1/4-in. worn hole on leaf 15. If there are further questions regarding the manuscript, please get in touch for an appointment to view it in person.