Horae, use of Rome

Horae, use of Rome
Thielman Kerver, 1507
HORAE, use of Rome, in Latin and French. Paris: Thielman Kerver, 20 January 1507.

A large copy with wide margins, bound in contemporary French calf; the Edmée Maus copy. Many of the large metal-cuts are from Kerver’s larger set, characterized by its “greater freedom from convention in the treatment of the designs, there being an appearance of relief or modelling in comparison with the older cuts: cross-hatching and other forms of shading are introduced” (Davies). The borders may be associated with those used by Vérard in 1498. Bohatta (1924) 830; Tenschert (2003) II no. 58; not in Brunet or Lacombe; see Moreau 1, 1507, 102. See Davies, Murray French, 267.

Octavo (226 x 152mm). Printed on vellum. 18 large cuts and numerous small cuts, plus Kerver device and anatomical man, pages within multi-piece historiated and ornamental border, Kerver’s shield on device overpainted with coat-of-arms in blue and gold, initials painted in gold on blue and red grounds, text ruled in red. Contemporary roll-tooled French calf over wooden boards, outer roll-tool borders of quatrefoils in lozenges enclosing central panel of five roll-tooled fleur-de-lys stripes, edges gilt (rebacked and board edges renewed, lower joint cracked, lacking one clasp); modern quarter morocco chemise and slipcase. Provenance: Edmée Maus, Geneva (1905-71; bookplate; her library dispersed by Jammes and Engelberts) – acquired from Bernard Quaritch, Ltd, 1 July 1982.