AUTHOR: MULTIPLE SCRIBES

LANGUAGE: LATIN, OLD FRENCH

DATE: 1289

PAGE #: 204

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS:11.75 X 8.75 IN

VIEW THIS MANUSCRIPTS IN THE DIGITAL LIBRARY

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS FINELY ILLUMINATED BOOK OF HOURS WAS MADE IN ENGLAND AT THE END OF THE 13TH CENTURY. THE MANUSCRIPT IS INCOMPLETE AND MIS-BOUND. THE ORIGINAL SEQUENCE OF THE PARTS OF THE MANUSCRIPT CANNOT BE RECONSTRUCTED WITH CERTAINTY. THE ABBREVIATED HOURS WERE FOLLOWED BY THE HOURS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS, THE LITANY AND COLLECTS, THE FIFTEEN GRADUAL PSALMS, THE OFFICE OF THE DEAD, AND THE HOURS OF JESUS CRUCIFIED. WHETHER THE PRAYERS TO THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST, WHICH WERE FOLLOWED BY THE LECTIONS IN THE LIFE OF SAINT CATHARINE, CAME BEFORE OR AFTER THIS SEQUENCE IS UNKNOWN. THE BOOK’S MAIN ARTIST ALSO ILLUMINATED A BIBLE NOW HELD IN THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY AT OXFORD (MS. AUCT. D.3.2), AND A PSALTER PRESERVED AT TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE (MS. O.4.16). THIS MANUSCRIPT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF UNUSUAL TEXTS, INCLUDING THE HOURS OF JESUS CRUCIFIED AND THE OFFICE OF SAINT CATHERINE. THE TEXT OF THE FORMER HAS BEEN SCRAMBLED. THE PATRON OF THE MANUSCRIPT IS NOT CLEAR; A WOMAN IS DEPICTED AS PRAYING IN MANY OF THE INITIALS, BUT RUBRICS IN THE OFFICE OF THE DEAD MENTION FRÈRES (BROTHERS). THE IMAGERY IS INVENTIVE, AND THE HOURS OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED ARE GRACED WITH IMAGES DEPICTING THE FUNERAL OF REYNARD THE FOX IN ITS MARGINS. IN THE ABSENCE OF A CALENDAR, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO LOCATE THE ORIGIN OF THE MANUSCRIPT PRECISELY.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.