Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. Ruled in red for 17 lines of French text. Written in blue, red or gold ink on animal vellum. (197 x 138mm).
Large illuminated two-line ''KL'' initials (for KALENDS) in blue and red on a burnished gold ground with floral interior in blue, red and orange. Five illuminated one-line initials in burnished gold on a ground of blue and red with delicate white tracery. Elegant rinceaux panel border in a delicate floral motif with ivy leaves in red, blue, green, orange and burnished gold.
Northern France (Paris), c. 1420-40.
Among the feasts listed are St. Martin (4th), St. Thomas (7th), St. Margaret of Antioch(20th - patron saint of nurses and women in labor), St. Mary Magdalene (22nd - patron saint of repentant sinners), St. James the Greater (25th - patron saint of pilgrims and laborers) and St. Anne (28th).
Left of the saints’ days are repeating letters A - G called Dominical Letters since they help find Sundays. Far left is a column of Roman numerals i - xix called Golden Numbers to indicate appearances of new moons, & counting ahead 14 days, full moons throughout the year (year + 1; divide by 19; remainder is Golden Number - if zero GN = 19). Finally: each month had 3 fixed points: Kalends (1st day) Ides (middle) & Nones (9th day before Ides). All days in between were counted backwards from these points.
Shipped in archival 14x11'' mat.
