Horae, use of Bourges

Horae, use of Bourges
Antoine Vérard, 1500
HORAE, use of Bourges, in Latin and French. Paris: [André Bocard? for] Antoine Vérard, 9 February 1500.

One of only two copies known, the Dyson Perrins-Eric Sexton copy of a fully illuminated Book of Hours on vellum. GW identifies the printer as André Bocard (active 1491-1531), but other authorities leave the attribution uncertain; it does, however, share typesettings with an Horae, use of Tours, of the same date also attributed to Bocard (GW 13304). The cuts are from Pigouchet’s second series, and the miniaturist who illuminated them in this copy made numerous variations from the printed compositions, especially in the backgrounds. This artist can tentatively be identified with a member of the Bourges workshop of Jean de Montluçon, active around 1500 (cf. Beinecke ms. 436, Yale University Library). Exceedingly rare: the only other copy known is at the Princeton Firestone Library. Bohatta (1924) 684; Goff H-341; GW 13303; ISTC ih00341000; Winn, Vérard, H-24; not in Brunet, Lacombe or Macfarlane, Vérard.

Quarto (210 x 138mm). Printed on vellum. 88 leaves (of 90, lacking leaves a1 benediction and almanac with cut of two angels supporting a chalice, and f3 David and Bathsheba, with blank vellum leaves bound in place). Collation: a8 b4 c-g8 h6 aa-dd8 (a2r anatomical man, a2v-a5r calendar, a5v-a7r two oraisons in French, a7v-dd7r Latin text, a7v Martyrdom of Saint John, b1v Kiss of Judas, b4v Tree of Jesse, c1r Annunciation, c7r Visitation, d2v Crucifixion, d3v Pentecost, d4v Nativity, d7r Shepherds, e1r Magi, e3r Presentation, e5r Flight into Egypt, e8r Death of the Virgin, g1r Dives and Lazarus, aa1r Holy Trinity, bb8v Mass of Saint Gregory, dd5v Magi (repeated), dd7v-dd8r contents, dd8v Vérard device). 17 large cuts (of 19), plus anatomical man and printer’s device, and 44 small cuts of scenes of the Passion, Evangelists and saints, all very finely illuminated in colors and gold; the anatomical man and the printer’s device surrounded by illuminated borders covering the blank margins, of flowers, fruit and leaves on strongly patterned grounds of red, green, blue and gold, no printed borders; initials and space fillers painted in gold on blue or rose grounds, text ruled in red (coat-of-arms erased on printer’s device, where shield with Vérard’s initials is overpainted with another armorial). Light brown morocco by Eedy, London, gilt spine lettering, blind filets, gilt edges, silk ribbon bookmark (joints worn); modern quarter morocco chemise and slipcase. Provenance: Charles William Dyson Perrins (1864-1958, bookplates; his sale, Sotheby’s, 4-5 Nov. 1946, lot 432, sold to:) – Bernard Quaritch – Eric H.L. Sexton (1902-1980, bookplates; his sale, Christie’s New York, 8 April 1981, lot 126).