Psalter with private devotional collection, in Dutch and Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum

165 leaves (plus 2 original endleaves), 150mm. by 110mm., complete, collation: i^{10, ii-xi8, xii5 (v a singleton), xiii-xv8, xvi6 (i and another leaf a singleton), xvii-xix8, xx10, xxi6, horizontal catchwords, written space 92mm. by 70mm., single column, 20 lines in brown ink in an accomplished gothic hybrida hand, initials touched in red, rubrics and paragraph-marks in red, numerous 1- and 2-line initials in red,} fifteen large 3- to 5-line initials in red or blue with spaces left within the ascenders of the initials delineating scroll-work, occasionally with penwork to contrast (11r, 12r, 15v, 19v, 26r, 36r, 41r, 52r, 53v, 57v, 61v, 71v, 97r, 103v, 125v), a number of small and original holes in leaves throughout outlined by scribe in red ink, overall in excellent condition with wide and clean margins and extremely few later additions, sixteenth-century tooled leather over wooden boards with traces of modern clasps, rebacked in The Hague in 1929

provenance

1. Written for Ghjsbert Heynrichs in the year 1501, on the first day of December: his lengthy contemporary ownership inscription on second endleaf (with sixteenth-century addition in secretarial hand explaining date); most probably produced in Utrecht: note the presence of SS. Willibrord, the first bishop of Utrecht (obit 739) in red in the calendar for 7 November, Odulf, who died there (obit 855) in red for 12 June, Ludger, bishop of Münster, who was born at Utrecht (obit 809) for 26 March, and the late virgin martyr Aechte (obit 1444) for 5 February, whose cult was focussed on Utrecht.

2. Subsequently owned by Maritgen Baernts: later fifteenth-century ownership inscription of dit boeck hoert toe Maritgen baernts d'z on initial endleaf.

3. Most probably in the library of an institution in Aldekerk, near Kempen, approximately 40 miles west of Eindhoven (perhaps the church itself), in 1641: with the elaborate calligraphic inscription Kaldekerck (an old name for modern Aldekerk) heft dit boeck gecoft den 16 May anno 1641 (ie. Kalderkerk bought this book on the 16 May 1641).

4. P. van der Schetting: eighteenth-century ownership inscription on second endleaf.

5. Bought by the present owner's family in 1889, and the binding restored in 1929 in The Hague.

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."

text

The volume includes a calendar (fols. 1r-10v); a prayer in Dutch beginning Heer doet op myn lippen ... (ie. Domina labia mea aperies ...) (11r-12v); Psalms 1-150 in Dutch with short Latin incipits (12r-66v); a Litany for the Virgin and prayers, all in Dutch (66v-71v); the Fifteen Os of St. Bridget in Dutch (71v-78r); prayers to Christ in Dutch (78r-79r); short prayers to various saints and for various days of the calendar, including Christ, the Trinity, SS. Stephen, John the Evangelist, Agnes, Paul, Mary Magdalene, Jacob, Laurence, and for the Sunday before Ascension, the Transfiguration, and the feast of St. John before the Latin Gate, all in Dutch (78r-125r);  a series of short exhortations on matters of practical church-life, including admonitions about accumulation of wealth, and going to church frequently, and more practical advice on the use of candles, all in Dutch (125v-62r); prayers for Thursday and Saturday at Easter in Dutch (162rv); prayers for the Virgin, St. Elizabeth and the Trinity (162v-165v).