Book of Hours, use of Amiens, Paris, Simon Vostre, 1508, printed on vellum, later red morocco

BOOK OF HOURS. USE OF AMIENS

Les presentes heures a lusaige de Amiens sont au long sans riens requirer. [Paris: Simon Vostre, almanac 1508-1528]

4to (220 x 143mm.), PRINTED ON VELLUM, 108 leaves, a-b⁸ c⁴ d-i⁸ k¹⁰ â ê î⁸ ô⁶, Vostre's device on title-page, each page within metalcut borders, 25 PAGES FULLY ILLUMINATED BY A FINE CONTEMPORARY HAND, eighteenth-century Belgian red morocco gilt, spine gilt in compartments, later cloth chemise and morocco-backed pull-on case, f2-3 repaired at foot, pull-on case broken at head

THE CALENBERG-HEISS-THIERRY-BIGNON-EHRMAN COPY. "Imprimé sur Vélin, avec de jolies bordures gr. en bois et 24 grandes miniatures, fort riches et d'un coloris très-vif" (Thierry catalogue). A BEAUTIFUL COPY OF A RARE BOOK OF HOURS OF UNCOMMON USE.

LITERATURE:

Van Praet, Vélins du Bibliothèque nationale 244 (mentioning the Heiss copy with illuminations); cf. Bohatta 5; Fairfax Murray, French 693; USTC 26143 (all Simon Vostre, use of Amiens, with slightly different collation)

PROVENANCE:

Henri Reinecke, comte de Calenberg (1683-1772), morocco armorial on inside front cover, sale, Brussels, Ermens, 26 April 1773, but not found in the catalogue (lot 22 is described as a book of hours, illuminated manuscript on vellum, 8vo in red morocco gilt);

Baron d'Heiss, sale, Paris, De Bure, 7 March 1785, lot 15, described as being a 4to in a red morocco binding;

Thierry, sale, Paris, Brunet, 28 April 1817, lot 143 (there is a manuscript note in the Houghton copy of the catalogue, stating that it is the Heiss copy, lot 15, price 60 francs), price 181 francs;

Jérôme Bignon, sale, Paris, Leblanc, 28 March 1837, lot 52 (an unidentified illuminated printed book of hours probably by Vostre); these 3 listed on a manuscript note loosely inserted;

Albert Ehrman (1890-1969), ink monogram on inside lower cover