Title: Book of Hours. Officium beatae Marie Virginis, 1545
Author: Catholic Church
Publisher: Venezia, in Officina Francesco Marcolini
Condition: Very Good
A scarce mid 16th century Book of Hours, from the workshop of Francesco Marcolini.
This Book of Hours is printed in a red and black Gothic script, in a 22-line font, profusely illustrated throughout with border woodcuts and full-page woodcuts. There are 20 of 22 full-page woodcuts, and decorated woodcut initials. There are woodcut figures and woodcut decorations in the margins of any page which does not include a full-page woodcut. The detail to these woodcuts is reminiscent of Marcolini’s work in the 1544 Dante with Vellutello’s commentary.
The woodcuts are as followed: The Annunciation; f. b viii r, The Visitation; f. 14 v, The Nativity; f. 23 v The Annunciation to the Shepherds; f. 27 v, The Presentation in the Temple; f. 31 v, The Adoration of the Magi; f. 35 v, The Flight into Egypt; f. 39 v, The Massacre of the Innocents; f. 45 v, The Annunciation; f. 50 v, The Visitation; f. 64 v, The Nativity; f. 72 v, The Annunciation to the Shepherds; f. 76 v, The Adoration of the Magi; f. 80 v, The Presentation in the Temple; f. 84 v, The Flight into Egypt; f. 88 v, The Massacre of the Innocents; f. 94 v, The Annunciation; f. 100 v, Unidentifiable Woodcut; f. 104 v, The Dormition; f. 118 v, The Crucifixion; f. 147 v, Pentecost; f. 151 v.
This Book of Hours has been rebound by a previous owner, with the contemporary blind-stamped panelled calf covers and worn spine laid down, albeit the pieces being rubbed and scuffed.
All leaves before a3 are lacking which includes the title and calendar, as is leaf b1, E6, Z1, Z8, and the final unnumbered leaf. Quire G has been misbound. Leaves Z1 and Z8 have been provided in a curious manuscript facsimile, the producer of those leaves even going so far as to do their best in replicating the lacking woodcut borders, making for some rather charming handiwork.
USTC records 10 existing copies of this edition in libraries.
One finely bound volume in octavo, (12 of 24)+181 of 184 leaves
This volume is in very good shape, with some rubbing and scuffing to the laid down leather to the binding. There are a few small, repaired tears, mostly to the margins, but occasionally affecting the odd woodcut border or text. There is some light toning and minor soiling scattered throughout as well.