A beautiful illuminated manuscript Book of Hours, inscribed in a flowing gothic script, likely produced in Rouen, or Northern France in general.
This Book of Hours is illuminated throughout, opening with a brightly illuminated calendar, for the Usage of Troyes, considering the specific saints in the calendar. Several leaves show the remnants of full border illumination from the adjacent leaves that were excised. There are hundreds of 1 and 2-line illuminated initials throughout against a red or blue background, with numerous illuminated line fillers as well.
This Book of Hours is written in a 17-line format.
This Book of Hours bears several provenance markers, the first being a note indicating that this manuscript previously belonged to Beaumont College, before it was dissolved in 1967. More modern provenance shows it belonging to different members of the Rhea Family of Western Pennsylvania.
The Book of Hours is lacking all miniatures, and opening major textual divisions.
The structure of the Horae is standard, beginning with the Gospel Sequences, the Hours of the Virgins, the Penitental Psalms and Litany, the Office of the Dead, and more.
The manuscript was finely rebound in the 18th century, though incorrectly titled as a Missal Romanum.
One finely bound illuminated manuscript on vellum in octavo, 96 leaves
This manuscript is in very good shape, with minor rubbing and wear to the binding. The painted borders are largely gone, and the calendar has slight staining.