BOOK OF HOURS AND CALENDAR
Book of Hours, use of Rome, in Latin. Paris, France: Thielman Kerver, 1526 Octavo (175 x 105 mm - 7 x 4.2").
Printed on vellum, ruled in red. 130 leaves (of 132), lacking c1 and e4 – sewn tear on Iiiii. Cut of the Anatomical Man on verso of title (both illuminated), plus 44 large miniatures, 34 smaller miniatures, ALL ILLUMINATED IN GOLD AND COLORS BY A CONTEMPORARY HAND.
Painted architectural border on large miniatures. Metal-cut borders on all other pages, initials in gold on red or blue panels. Almanac for 1523-1542, dated 14 August 1526 on the final leaf.
19th century green morocco binding with gilt border on front and back boards and 6 panels of gilt embellishment on spine. An exceptional printed Book of Hours with a much larger suite of illuminations than normally encountered.
Provenance: Ex-collection of Robert Walsingham Martin, with his bookplate. Martin, a NY banker, collector and member of the Grolier Club, died in 1961. His library contained over 50 illuminated manuscripts. The introduction to the Parke-Bernet auction catalog of his library in 1953 states: ''Considered as a unit, the Martin collection represents what is probably the most outstanding library to be dispersed at auction in this country since the sale of the books of the late Lucius Wilmerding in 1950-51''.
