Horae, use of Rome, Paris, 1503, printed on vellum, contemporary blind-tooled calf

HORAE. USE OF ROME. Hore intermate Virginis marie secundum usum Romanum cum pluribus orationibus tam in gallico que in latino. (Paris): Thielman Kerver (for Gilles Remacle, 10 January 1503)

A typical Parisian book of hours from the early sixteenth century, with fine metalcut illustrations attributed to the Master of the Apocalypse Rose.

8vo (204 x 133 mm), printed on vellum. Black letter, 29 lines. Collation: A-M⁸: 96 leaves. Metalcut printer’s device on title-page, each page with historiated metalcut borders, metalcut illustrations, initials supplied in gold on red or blue grounds. (Title-page damaged and repaired with some loss of text and border, first two quires slightly defective along fore-edge, general soiling throughout, final leaf slightly defective at head.)

Binding: Contemporary blind-tooled calf (212 x 144 mm), a double frame made using the same roll-tool, laid down onto a modern binding, retaining original vellum flyleaves. (Binding somewhat rubbed, upper joint starting to crack.)

Provenance: "D’aymeric(?)", early inscription on flyleaf — Henri Bonnasse (1899-1984), booklabel. Acquisition: Purchased in 1984 from Libreria Antiquaria Pregliasco, Turin. References: Bohatta 755; BP16 100283; Lacombe 137; USTC 26042