Scarce complete original gathering (also called a quire or signature) of eight continuous leaves joined as bifolia (eight leaves = sixteen pages) from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. Each leaf contains 15 lines of red ruled text written on both sides in Latin on animal vellum in brown ink. (Each leaf measures 184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8 inches)
Six two-line illuminated initials, forty-seven one-line illuminated initials and three line extenders in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork. The panel borders on both sides of each leaf contain a highly decorative floral design with flowers, berries, and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, and burnished gold.
France (Anjou), Use of Angers, c. 1450-75.
The text in the gathering contains biblical passages and selections from the nine lessons from Job detailing the trials he endured in his struggle for God’s blessings.
The one-line illuminated “Q” continues Psalm 41 (King James 42) 10-12: “Quare…” (Why hast thou forgotten me…).
The two-line illuminated “S” begins Lesson VII – Job 17: 1-3, 11-15: “Spiritus meus…” (My spirit shall be waisted…).
The two-line illuminated “P” begins Lesson VIII – Job 19:20-27: “Peli…” (The flesh being consumed…).
The two-line illuminated “Q” begins Lesson IX – Job 10: 18-22: “Quare…” (Why didst thou bring me forth…).
The two-line illuminated “T” begins Psalm 64 (KJ 65) complete: “Te decet…” (A hymn, O God, becometh thee in Sion: and a vow shall be paid to thee in Jerusalem…).
The two-line illuminated “E” begins the Canticle of Exechius – Isaiah 38: 10-20: “Ego dixi…” (In the midst of my days I shall go to the gates of hell…).
The two-line illuminated “V” begins Psalm 141 (KJ 142) complete: “Voca mea…” (I cried to the Lord with my voice: with my voice I made supplication to the Lord…).
Angers was the cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty and one of the intellectual centers of Europe during the reign of Rene of Anjou, (1434-80). When this leaf was scribed the two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty, House of Lancaster & House of York, were engaged in the War of the Roses.
This gathering of 8 Book of Hours leaves was scribed and illuminated in Anjou, France (use of Angers), c. 1450-75. This is an original,more than 560 years old, not a reproduction. The condition is remarkably nice as shown in the photos, with stunning bright colors and gold, and only minor devotional wear. Thomas the Cat is not included.
Shipped unmatted
