Original continuous bifolium leaves (two leaves – four pages) from a French medieval illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. 13 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin with dark brown ink in fine lettre bâtarde script on animal vellum. Two two-line illuminated initials, twelve one-line illuminated initials and nine line extenders in burnished gold on red and blue ground; the ¼ border is a colorful floral motif on liquid gold ground; ¼ border (pages 2 and 3) in a colorful floral design on liquid gold ground.
Origin: Paris, France circa 1500.
Size (each leaf): 110 x 75mm – 4.25 x 2.9 inches. Overall size of the joined pair is 4.25 x 5.8 inches. From a diminutive manuscript likely written for a lady.
This is the center pair of leaves from a signature, thus the text is continuous from the recto of the first leaf to the verso, then to the recto of the second leaf and finally to its verso. Scarce, because that can only happen on the center bifolium. The two joined leaves impart the feeling and appearance of an open medieval book !
The first one-line illuminated “M” continues the hymn Memento Salutus Auctor (Remember O Creator Lord): ”Maria…” (Mother of grace, O Mary blest, to thee, sweet fount of love, we fly; shield us through life, and take us hence to thy dear bosom when we die. O Jesu! born of Mary bright! Immortal glory be to Thee; praise to the Father infinite, and Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.).
The two-line illuminated “B” begins Psalm 1 complete: “Beatus vir…” (Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence. But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season…).
The two-line illuminated “Q” begins Psalm 2: 1-4: “Quare…” (Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord, and against his Christ…).
Provenance: ex-collection of Brooklyn Museum of Art, acquired in 1919. Deaccessioned and sold to support the museum collection.
Scarce and in fine antiquarian condition. There is a small wormhole in the text of one leaf.
Shipped unmatted
