
Title: Horae Beate Marie Virginis. Book of Hours, Use of Rome, Circa 1508
Author: Simon Vostre(?)
Publisher: Paris, Probably Simon Vostre
Condition: Very Good
An early 16th century Book of Hours printed on paper, likely from the workshop of Simon Vostre. This book is printed in a 26-line format, in a gothic text, and is fully rubricated throughout in red and blue. This Hours is profusely illustrated throughout, with 16 near-full page metalcut illustrations along with 26 smaller metalcuts, and hundreds of border metalcuts, with the borders comprising of images of flowers, birds, animals and monsters, all of which are “designs by the Master of the Très Petites Heures of Anne of Brittany, Jean Pichore, and an anonymous Master working in the style of Dürer” (Les Enluminures). Metalcuts of note include the Nativity, the Betrayal of Christ, the Nativity, the Anatomical Man, and more.
The title page is lacking, as is quire c, and potentially additional leaves at the end. As there is no title page or colophon, it is difficult to determine the exact edition and collation.
One volume in 12mo, 103 of 112(?) leaves
The present collation is as followed: a-b8 d-h8 ã8 ẽ8 ĩ8
This volume is in very good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the 19th century binding, and a small wormhole to the bottom of the front hinge. Folio f1 has a repaired tear affecting the first six lines, obscuring some text. Leaf ĩ1 has several small repairs. The leaves of the final quire have been bound in the incorrect order. The upper corner of the frame to folio g8 has been replaced and redone in pen, with several letters obscured. There is some scattered foxing throughout, heavier to the second half to the volume.