Horae, use of Rome

Horae, use of Rome
Thielman Kerver, 1519
HORAE, use of Rome, in Latin. Paris: Thielman Kerver, 5 December 1519.

The Hachette copy, bound in red morocco. This edition is notable for the abundance of illustration, with three unusual sequences of the story of David, the Ars Moriendi and the Passion, situated at the transitional point when the gothic tradition of Books of Hours was being modified by Italianizing influences acting through German woodcutters by way of Basel and Strasbourg. Most of the full-page cuts are from Kerver’s larger series. Bohatta (1924) 1032; not in Brunet or Lacombe. See Davies, Murray French, 267.

Octavo (171 x 105mm). Printed on vellum in red and black, text in Roman letter. 46 large cuts, plus full-page printer’s device and anatomical man, 35 small cuts of Evangelists, the Passion and saints, each page within multi-piece historiated and ornamental border, initials painted in gold on blue or magenta grounds, text ruled in red (small dampstains on lower margin of several leaves, occasional light soiling). Late 18th-century red straight-grain morocco, neo-classical ornaments in gilt, all edges gilt, silk ribbon bookmark (extremities lightly rubbed); modern quarter morocco chemise and slipcase. Provenance: André Hachette (1873-1945; bookplate; his sale, Hôtel Drouot, 16 Dec. 1953, lot 78) – acquired from Librairie Lardanchet, Paris, 15 December 1981.