Book of Hours, Use of Paris, in Latin and French [France (Paris), c.1470s, with mid-15th-century southern Netherlandish insertions]

154x115mm, vellum, iii+146+iii leaves, foliated 1-143, plus 3 inserted unfoliated single miniatures), apparently complete, 16 lines, 85x62mm, 5 large and 3 inserted full-page miniatures with full borders, large initials with three-sided borders to the hours and major prayers; first leaf repaired, some smudging to some of the miniatures; bound in red morocco, gilt title on spine, upper turn-in signed by [Émile] Bosquet (1834-1912), gilt edges, the upper joint weakening, corners bumped

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."

provenance

(1) Written and illuminated in Paris in the circle of Maître François. Litany with St Gendulf, whose head-relic was at Notre Dame, and St Genevieve, who also appears twice in the calendar (3 January, in red, 26 November). The southern Netherlandish insertions are earlier and relate to the Masters of the Beady Eyes; they were added later, facing some of the existing miniatures.

(2) 19th-century armorial bookplate: ‘Ex libris Léonce Dupont de St. Ouen’; a catalogue clipping stuck to a back pastedown is identified in pencil as being from his anonymous sale, 1935, lot 6.

(3) 20th-century book-label of Robert Nossam on verso of first flyleaf.

text and illumination

Calendar, in French, with an entry for every day (f.1r); Gospel extracts (f.13r); Obsecro te (f.18r), O intemerata (f.21r), Hours of the Virgin, Use of Paris, with Matins (f.24v), Lauds (f.33v), Prime (f.43r), Terce (f.48r), Sext (f.51v), None (f.54v), Vespers (f.58r), Compline (f.64r); the Penitential Psalms (f.69r), litany (f.80r), and a collect; Hours of the Cross (f.84r); Hours of the Holy Spirit (f.87r); Office of the Dead (f.90r); Les Quinze Joies (f.131r) and Les Sept Plaies (f.135v); the Verses of St Bernard (f.138r); suffrages (f.139v) to Sts Sebastian, Adrian, Barbara, Apollonia, Katherine, Mary Magdalene, and Genevieve, some of them in rhyming verse.

The subjects of the large miniatures are: (1) f.13r, St John on Patmos; (2) f.24v, Annunciation; (3) unfoliated, facing f.69r, Virgin and Child Enthroned; (4) King David (f.69r); (5) f.84r, Crucifixion; (6) f.87r, Pentecost; (7) unfoliated, facing f.90r, Pentecost; (8) f.90r, Funeral Service; (9) unfoliated, facing f.131r, Annunciation.