Title: Book of Hours, Circa 1450. Use of Paris, France. Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum, 11 Damaged Full-Page Miniatures with Full Borders, and Two Historiated Initials
Good.
A mid 15th century illuminated manuscript Book of Hours, inscribed in a flowing gothic script, produced in France, for the Use of Paris.
The localization of the usage is made evident by the number of common Feast Days and Saints for Paris, and more specific ones, such as Saint Landricus in June.
This Book of Hours is illuminated throughout, with a full suite of 11 large miniatures surrounded by an illuminated border, accentuated with leaves, foliage, and flowers. There are two large 4-line historiated initials as well, one of which is well preserved and fully legible. The first large miniature has two smaller border miniatures as well.
There are two large three-line initials, and each of the 11 miniatures has an accompanying three-line initial as well, some fully highlighted in gold or with flowering tendrils inside.
There are then 138 beautifully ornate 2-line red and blue initials against gold, also with flowering tendrils inside, and then hundreds if not over a thousand illuminated 1-line initials against red and blue. There are also some illuminated line fillers against red and blue.
This Book of Hours is written in a 15-line format.
The January, June, and July leaves from the calendar are lacking.
This Book of Hours has been rebound, but the original wooden boards have been preserved, and part of the original front cover has been reattached over the rebinding.
One manuscript in octavo, (19.9 x 13.5 cm), 153 leaves on vellum
This manuscript is in good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the binding, with wormholes to the original front cover, and a tear to the head of the spine. All the miniatures have been heavily worn, with only a couple of miniatures partially legible. The calendar has been bizarrely trimmed in odd ways, but the text is all preserved. There is some ink staining and soiling throughout, with a few initials ink smeared. One initial near the end has been cut out, but this appears to be the only such example.