Horae, use of Amiens, Paris, 1562, contemporary Parisian calf

HORAE. USE OF AMIENS. Heures Nostre Dame à l’usage d’Amiens toutes au long sans riens requerir. Paris: (Nicolas Bruslé for) Guillaume Merlin, (1562; 1569)

A charming and uncommon book of hours, not recorded in USTC, Bohatta or Lacombe. It is a composite volume, containing three sections: the Hours proper, prayers (both in Latin), and “Les quinze effusions du sang de notre sauveur”.

Guillaume Merlin published numerous books of hours in different languages from the late 1540s until the 1570s. This volume is in a publisher’s binding, featuring Merlin’s device stamped in gilt on the covers. Colin records three different versions of Guillaume Merlin’s device on a total of seven bindings (of which two volumes are now destroyed). (Georges Colin, “Les marques de libraires et d’éditeurs dorées sur des reliures”, Bookbindings and other bibliophily: essays in honour of Anthony Hobson (Verona, 1994), 77-115, p.99, stamp C).

16mo (120 x 85 mm). Roman type, 28 lines plus headline. Collation: A-P⁸ [2]A-D⁸ [3]A⁸: 168 leaves. Printed in red and black throughout, woodcut initials, woodcut borders to some leaves, woodcut illustrations.

Binding: Contemporary Parisian calf gilt (120 x 85 mm), gilt printer’s device stamped on covers, double frame of blind fillets with corner fleurons, later spine with small flower stamp in compartments, gilt edges. (Neatly rebacked.)

Provenance: Margaret Paige, early signature on rear flyleaf — Bernard Quaritch, London, Catalogue 1437, 2018, item 31 — Nina Musinksy, New York, E-Catalogue 16: Twenty-two recent acquisitions, item 9. Acquisition: Purchased in 2019 from Nina Musinsky, New York. References: not in any of the standard literature