Leaves from a Breviary, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum

4 leaves, 120mm. by 98mm., written space 78mm. by 52mm., single column, 18 lines in dark brown ink in a Gothic hand, a number of saints' names in Calendar beginning in red, line fillers in red and blue with simple liquid gold bezants, numerous 1-line initials in liquid gold with alternate red and blue penwork tracery, four roundels containing scenes from the seasons (a man carrying wheat and a man extending his hand to a bird - most probably a hawk - for May / June; a man killing an  ox with an axe and a man baking bread in an oven for November / December) on burnished gold grounds enclosed by pink star-like frames, with border panels in liquid gold, pink and blue with white penwork tracery, two 8-line initials in pink touched with white penwork, and enclosing scenes of Christ as the 'Salvator mundi' holding the orb of the world in a fold of his cloak and blessing, beneath him a naked prostrate king, and a seated king, probably David, sitting beside a hairy devil with clawed feet, both set on burnished gold infill, all framed with blue, with white penwork and a burnished gold frame which extends into a border frame on two sides, terminating on one leaf in an animal head, and on the other in a small figure of a man who shoots at a line-drawn red bird high in the corner of the page above him, a modest erasure from the area of the naked king's genitals, some rubbing and flaking to gold, leaves slightly discoloured through use, else in good condition on thick and strong vellum

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."

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The text leaves contain Psalms 51 (opening Quid gloriaris ...) and 68 (Salvum me fac ...) and the calendar leaves are those for May / June and November / December. The style of the illumination is that of the southern Netherlands, but more specifically, the presence of SS. Willibrord (c. 658-739; 7 November), bishop of Utrecht, and Odulf (obit 855; 12 June), a canon of Utrecht, strongly suggests that the manuscript was written and illuminated for use by a community in or near that city in the second half of the thirteenth century.