Book of Hours, Use of Paris, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum

207 leaves (one a later blank), 153 mm. by 100 mm., lacking single leaves after fols. 28, 109, 140 (replaced by a later but old blank) and 148, fol. 195 misbound and should follow fol. 203, else complete, collation: i^{12, ii-iii8, iv7 [of 8, lacking i], v-xiii8, xiv2, xv7 [of 8, lacking i], xvi8, xvii7 [of 8, lacking vii], xviii8, xix7+1 [of 8, lacking ii, replaced by blank], xx7 [of 8, lacking ii], xxi-xxv8, xxvi8+1 [of 8, present first leaf misbound from the next gathering], xxvii4 [perhaps of 6, i misbound into previous gathering, blanks cancelled at end], with some traces of catchwords, 15 lines, ruled in red ink, written-space 80 mm. by 44 mm., written in dark brown ink in a gothic liturgical hand, rubrics in red, Calendar in alternate lines of red and blue with major entries in burnished gold, line-fillers and one-line initials throughout in burnished gold on red and blue grounds with white tracery, 2-line initials throughout in formal leafy designs in coloured on burnished gold grounds}, panel borders throughout in the outer margins of every page with full-length baguettes (mostly in colours on burnished gold, sometimes in softer colours with liquid gold heightening, or as rustic branches) with designs of  coloured flowers and acanthus leaves, nine large historiated initials 4 lines high, many signs of use, genealogical additions in margins of Calendar and on fols. 139v-140r erased, many pages rather thumbed and sometimes smudged and a bit stained, outer margins cropped close with some loss of extremities of illuminated borders, other wear, bound in early nineteenth-century blind-stamped russia, title gilt, gilt edges

provenance

(1) The text is of the Use of Paris.  There are erased seventeenth-century family notes in the Calendar and on fols. 139v-140r, including mention of a Marguerite de la Fontaine.

(2) From the Boswell collection at Auchinleck House, in East Ayrshire, Scotland, and by descent from Alexander Boswell (1707-1782), Lord Auchinleck, to his son, James Boswell (1740-1795), the biographer of Johnson, and through the family to James Boswell Talbot (1874-1948), sixth Baron Talbot of Malahide, at Malahide Castle, near Dublin, and sold privately in 1976 by Lady Talbot to a collector, from whom they have passed by descent to the present owner.

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

A Calendar (fol. 1r), in French, including SS. Louis and Denis in gold; the Gospel Sequences (fol. 12r); the Obsecro te (for male use, fol. 20r) and O intemerata; the Hours of the Virgin "selon lusage de paris" (as on fol. 28v), with Matins (fol. 29r), Lauds (fol. 57r), Prime (fol. 71v), Terce (fol. 78v), Sext (fol. 84r), None (fol. 89r), Vespers (fol. 94r) and Compline (fol. 102v); the Penitential Psalms (fol. 110r) and Litany; the Hours of the Cross (fol. 131r) and of the Holy Ghost (fol. 142r); and the Office of the Dead (fol. 148r).

illumination

This is a characteristic Parisian manuscript in the general style of Maître François.  The historiated initials are: (1) the Virgin and Child (fol. 20r); (2) the Virgin weaving (fol. 24r); (3) the Visitation (fol. 57v); (4) the Nativity of Christ (fol. 71v); (5) the Circumcision (fol. 78v); (6) the Flight into Egypt (fol. 84r); (7) the Virgin with Joseph (fol. 89r); (8) Christ carrying the Cross (fol. 94r); and (9) the Nailing to the Cross (fol. 102v).