Original continuous leaves (eight leaves – sixteen pages) from a printed & beautifully hand-illuminated Book of Hours. Ruled for twenty-six lines of Latin text, printed in black on animal vellum. (Each Leaf: 163 x 108mm – 6 3/8 x 4 1/4’’)
This is a group of eight leaves disbound from a printed and hand illuminated book of hours. The recto of the first leaf comprises the almanac for 14 years from 1532 to 1545. The verso of the first leaf through the recto of the eighth leaf contains the complete medieva liturgical calendar for a year with an entry for nearly every day - remarkably complete.
Initials illuminated by hand in gold, on grounds of blue and/or red with delicate gold penwork. Elaborate border on each side hand-painted with tempera colors in a floral motif with acanthus leaves on liquid gold ground. Twelve two-line illuminated “KL” initials in gold on alternating red or blue ground announcing the beginning of months January through December.
Printed and hand-painted with rich sumptuous colors in the workshop of Germain Hardouyn - printer and highly skilled illuminator.
Paris, c. 1532.
On the calendar leaves at left are letters A - G called Dominical Letters (to help find Sundays).At 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 through the year (year + 1; divide by 19; remainder is Golden Number - if zero GN = 19). The 3 fixed points: Kalends (1st) Ides (middle) & Nones (9th day before Ides). Days between are counted backwards from these points.
In purpose and format, printed Books of Hours followed the older manuscript examples. The more luxurious were printed on vellum., as is this example.
Shipped unmatted
