Collection of leaves from English decorated manuscripts, in Latin, on vellum

7 leaves from various manuscripts, (a) two text leaves from the Hungerford Hours, 165mm. by 106mm., 17 lines in dark brown ink in a fine Gothic bookhand, numerous 1-line initials in liquid gold and blue with purple or red penwork, and line-fillers in same, five large initials, 2- or 3-lines in height, in blue or pink with white penwork, enclosing coloured floral sprays, on contrasting blue or pink grounds edged in liquid gold, leafy extensions into borders forming text frames, slight water damage to edge of one leaf, else in excellent condition, East Anglia, perhaps Ely or Lincoln, c. 1330; (b) two text leaves from a Breviary, 119mm. by 89mm., 34 lines in black ink in a tiny but precise Gothic hand, rubrics in red, seventeen 2-line initials in blue or pink each enclosing a single coloured ivy-leaf, on liquid gold grounds, with liquid gold extensions up and down borders terminating in coloured foliage with liquid gold ivy-leaves and bezants, in excellent condition, East Anglia, late fourteenth century; (c) single leaf from a Psalter, 240mm. by 165mm., 20 lines in black ink in a fine Gothic hand, eighteen 1-line initials in alternate red and blue (one with an ascender extending 35mm. into bas-de-page), with line fillers in same, one 2-line initial in burnished gold with elaborate red and blue penwork infill and tracery, England, first half of the thirteenth century; (d) single leaf from a Gradual, 306mm. by 210mm., 13-16 lines in black ink in an accomplished early Gothic hand, with a number of 4-line red staves, rubrics in red, three 1-line initials in red, seven 3-line initials in red, green and blue with penwork and decoration to contrast, minor repair to lower left-hand corner, slight water-damage to two lines on verso, else in excellent condition, probably England, c. 1200; (e) single leaf from a large lectern bible, 450mm. by 305mm., double column, written space c.310 mm. by 200mm., ruled for 22 lines, written in brown ink in a large liturgical gothic bookhand, with running titles and chapter numbers at head of page in alternately red and blue letters, rubric in red, large illuminated initial 'I' height in burnished gold on blue and pink grounds with white penwork, terminating in leafy marginal extensions up and down margin, foliated '340' in a hand of eighteenth or early nineteenth century in pale red ink in upper right hand corner of recto, in outstanding condition, England (East Anglia, perhaps Cambridge), mid-fourteenth century; all in card mounts

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

These leaves are all from English liturgical manuscripts. Item a is from the Hungerford Hours, an important and early East Anglian Book of Hours which seems to have belonged to Robert, Lord Hungerford (d. 1459, buried in Salisbury Cathedral) and his wife Margaret Botreaux (d. 1478). Its Calendar and one miniature are in the British Library, Addit. 61887 & 62106, and the book is described by J. Backhouse, 'An English Calendar', A. G. Thomas Festschrift, 1981, pp. 8-10 and by M. Michael, 'The Hungerford Hours and English Manuscript Illumination', English Manuscript Studies II, 1990, pp. 33-108. The present leaves were bought in our rooms 5 July 1976, lot 12. Item e is from a monumental English lectern bible of 424 leaves which was broken c.1927 (probably by Myers and Co. of New Bond Street, London: leaves were in Myers Catalogues 274, 1930, nos. 255-6; 291, 1932, nos. 310-11). L. Sandler (in her Gothic Manuscripts 1285-1385, ii, 1986, pp. 146-7) has compared the illumination of these leaves with two of the Bohun manuscripts and suggests a date of c.1360. Much of the volume has since come to light, and leaves can be found in numerous public and private collections. A list of known leaves is in Manion, Vines and de Hamel, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in New Zealand Collections, 1989, pp. 93-5. The present leaf contains Daniel 1:14-2:13, and is listed there. The other items were also purchased in our rooms: b was bought in our rooms 14 July 1981 lot 27; item c on 19 June 1979, lot 4; and item d on 7 December 1982, lot 7. None has been on the market for over two decades.

All from the collection of the late Dr F. Jossi.