Beautifully Bound Book of Hours on Vellum in Early Binding for "Guillaume de Beurges" - Heures a l'usaige de Paris - With Title Page, Zodiac man and 12 Full page Hand illuminated illustrations

Post-incunable Book of Hours Printed in Paris by Germain Hardouin in 1519

Printed on VELLUM with contemporary HAND ILLUMINATION from the Workshop of Hardouin

Books of hours were personal prayer books used for daily contemplation and prayer. They were hugely popular with the rich and upper middle classes from the 15th to the beginning of the 16th century.  Initially hand written, at the end of the 15th century Paris became a specialist centre in producing printed books of hours. These were expensive items made to a high standard with intricate engravings and border decorations, and display a mastering of the art of printing.

Books of hours were printed in various formats at this time: on paper, on vellum with some heightening of text, and on vellum with fine red, blue and gold illumination of text and illustrations. This is the most luxurious format of the books - printed on vellum and with full hand illumination from the workshop of Hardouin. Many well known individuals, including Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, owned a book of hours from his workshop.

 

Collation:

-99 (of 104) pages: a-n8 (missing 5 leaves: dii, eiiii, fi, fvii & lv)

-Text in Latin and French, Gothic type, 27 lines. 

-20.5 x 12cm approx (2.5cm width)

 

ILLUSTRATION and ILLUMINATION:

-14 Large Woodcut Illustrations with 30 smaller illustrations in text. Head-letters illuminated in gold blue and red. All illustrations are HAND ILLUMINATED in the workshop of Gilles Hardouyn. 

 

The Large Illustrations are:

-Frontispiece with two cherubs holding up a crest of Hardouin's name

-Anatomical man

-St John with Eagle

-Jesus healing the ear of the servant

-Annunciation

-Visitation

-Pentecost

-Crucifixion

-Nativity

-Adoration of the Shepherds

-Flight into Egypt

-Anointing of King David

-King David in Battle

-The Rich man and Lazarus

 

Prayers and collation:

A1v printed title page with prayer

A1r almanac in French for 1519-1530

A2v-6r calendar

A7r-B1v Gospel sequence 

B2v Passion according to St. John 

B6v The seven Prayers of Mary

B6r Psalms against Adversity

B7v Oration of Saint Augustine

C1v Hours of the Virgin: Matins-Lauds 

D6 Hours of the Cross

D7 Hours of the Holy Spirit 

D8Hours of the Virgin: 

   -D8 ad primum, E5 ad tertiam , E8 ad sextam, F1 ad nonam, F5Vespers, F7 Compline

G3 Seven Penitential Psalms [David Annointed]

H1 List of Saints

H3 Office of the Dead [Dives and Lazarus]

K5 Suffrages and other prayers, including Obsecro te, O Intemerata, Stabat Mater [30 small cuts] and Prayers for the Virgin Mary

N8 Colophon: "Imprimées a Paris, pour Germain Hardouin Demeurat entre les deux Portes du Palais a léseigne saincte Mar-guerite"

 

Anotomical Man

The Book includes the celebrated “zodiac man”, illustrating the link between spirituality and religion at the time. This astrological man stands with his legs and arms spread. His organs are visible and each is attributed to a planet according to Mediaeval doctors’ interpretation of astrological influence on the organs. Between his legs a jester stares at the moon, emblem of the brain, suggesting the precariousness   of human intelligence and the influence of the moon (This is where the word lunatic originates).

At the four corners are figures representing the main temperaments:

The choleric man is in full armour with a lion at his side and flames surrounding him: “The choleric has fire of a lion, he has perilous wine and a bad complexion”

The Sanguine man holds a falcon and has a monkey at his feet: “From the the monkey and the air comes the sanguine who is frank and pleasant and has joyful wine”

The phlegmatic holds his gloves and has a purse on his belt, while a sheep is beside him: “The water holds the phlegmatic who is simple, gentle and practical

The melancholic leans on a staff with a pig by his side: “The Melancholic is made of swine and earth, is heavy and orderly and gives little heat”

The four paragraphs around the image describe the Fire, Air, Water and Earth signs and explain that when the moon is in their star signs it is the right time to let their blood.

 

Binding

Beautiful  c1600 binding in full morocco in the "Du Seuil " style. Spine with 5 raised bands. With the name "GVILLAVME DE BEVRGES" on the boards. Edges all in gold. One clasp missing the other loose.

 

Condition

Minor wear to binding and some marks to Vellum leaves. 5 leaves missing. Smudging and wear to some miniatures - especially the frontispiece and anatomical man. Wear to gold borders around illuminations with cross over to opposite pages. Creases to some pages. Otherwise very good.

Provenance

An inscription states that the book belonged to "Guillaume de Beurges" (c1600-1653) - Seigneur de Vaudeville (Meurthe-et-Moselle), Gentleman of the Chamber of the King, and Chief of the Ravens for the Grand Falconer of France.  

The "Grand Fauconnerie" was established by Louis XIII to organise hunting of Birds for the King.

The "De Beurges" Family lands were located in North East France, around the Marne and the Meuse. Stamps of "Ville sur Saulx" (Meuse) and "Archives de Beurges" are also present on the inscription page which locate the book to the same region.

 

Bibliography & Rarity

2 copies only - Copenhagen and Berlin

USTC 72778