Title: Hore Beate Marie Virginis Secundum usum Romanum totaliter ad longum, 1531. Extremely Scarce Illuminated Books of Hours Printed on Vellum, With 4 Large Miniatures. Recorded as a Lost Book on USTC
Author: Germain Hardouyn
Publisher: Paris, Germain Hardouyn
Condition: Very Good
An extremely scarce early 16th century illuminated Book of Hours printed on vellum, from the workshop of Germain Hardouyn, the miniatures beautifully hand illuminated. This Hours is profusely illustrated throughout, with 4 half-page text metalcuts, with illuminated frames. There is an almanac, dated 1531-1546.
This Book of Hours is printed in a 25-line format, with hundreds of illuminated 1 and 2-line initials against a red or blue background. Every page is beautifully highlighted with illuminated borders.
From 1510-1550, the brothers Gilles and Germain Hardouyn produced hundreds of printed Books of Hours from their workshop in Paris. Gilles served as the printer, and Germain was the illustrator, being registered in the Guild of Illuminators, and later printing and publishing under his own sign. With such quality of works being produced from their workshop, these printed Books of Hours could often be mistaken as illuminated manuscripts.
This volume has been rebound in an early 20th century alum tawed pigskin binding with roll stamps, in the style of earlier pigskin bindings from the 16th to 17th century.
Leaves C7, D8, E6,7,8, F3,6, H1 and K3 are lacking.
This volume bears the provenance inscriptions of Deperel de Maury (17th to 18th Century(?)), and the Swedish collection Per Hierta (1864-1924).
USTC records this Book of Hours as a Lost Book, and no copies available.
One pigskin volume in 16mo, 101 of 112 leaves on vellum
This volume is in very good shape, with very little rubbing or wear to the binding. There is a tear to the bottom edge of leaf B7. There is a bit of heavier soiling at the beginning, and minor staining throughout.