Horae, use of Rome

Horae, use of Rome
Étienne Jehannot for Antoine Vérard, 1498
HORAE, use of Rome, in Latin and French. Paris: [Étienne Jehannot for] Antoine Vérard, 10 August 1498.

Rare Book of Hours on vellum, the Fairfax Murray – Edmée Maus copy. This Horae printed by Étienne Jehannot features Pigouchet’s lovely set 2 cuts, introduced around 1495-96 and characterized by their flowing lines and the elaborately ornamented ogee arches framing the figures. These cuts were “evidently very favorably received by [his] rivals and imitators, for one finds several close copies and adaptations in the various productions of other presses…” (Davies). One of only four copies recorded in GW and ISTC. Bohatta (1924) 647; GW 13312; ISTC ih00393900; Macfarlane, Vérard 219; Proctor 8364; not in Brunet or Lacombe. See Davies, Murray French, pp. 265-268, 289.

Quarto (186 x 129mm). Printed on vellum. 16 large cuts from the Pigouchet suite, plus printer’s device and anatomical man, 27 small cuts in text of Evangelists and saints, all pages within multi-piece historiated borders, mostly on criblé background, initials and space fillers painted in gold on blue or magenta grounds, text faintly ruled in red (small marginal wormhole on k5-6, small marginal dampstain on upper corner of several leaves). 19th-century quarter red morocco over red paper boards, silk ribbon bookmark (extremities worn, covers rubbed); modern quarter morocco chemise and slipcase. Provenance: Charles Fairfax Murray (1849-1919; book-label) – Edmée Maus, Geneva (1905-71; bookplate; her library dispersed by Jammes and Engelberts).