Horae, use of Rome

Horae, use of Rome
Antoine Vérard, 1510
HORAE, use of Rome, in Latin and French. Paris: Antoine Vérard, 21 July 1510.

The Broxbourne copy of an unrecorded Book of Hours. A peculiarity in this copy is the blank space left in the colophon for the indication of use, here filled in manuscript with “Romme” by the printer. In addition, some quires are signed with an “R” for “Rome” preceding the signature, further indicating a common technique geared at preparing Horae for multiple use. Not in Bohatta (1924), Brunet or Lacombe. For similar editions by Vérard, see Macfarlane, Vérard 245, 246 and 248; Mortimer Harvard French 370, 371, 374, and Moreau Inv. I: 367, no.108 for one of the same date, use of Paris.

Octavo (157 x 99mm). Printed on vellum. 126 leaves. Collation: a8 b4 Av6 a-i8 k4 A-D8 (a1r benediction with cut of angels holding cup, a1v almanac for 18 years (1503-1520), a2r anatomical man, a2v-a8r calendar (one month per page), a8v Saint John, b4v Kiss of Judas, Av6v Tree of Jesse, a1r Annunciation, b3r Visitation, c1v Crucifixion, c2v Pentecost, c3v Nativity, c7r Shepherds, d2r Magi, d5r Presentation, d8r Massacre of the Innocents, e5r Death of the Virgin, f7r David and Uriah, h2r Raising of Lazarus, A1r Holy Trinity, C7v Mass of Saint Gregory, D8r colophon, D8v Vérard device). 17 large cuts, plus frontispiece, anatomical man and printer’s device, of which 10 are in Renaissance style replacing the gothic cuts of previous editions, and 29 small cuts in text of Evangelists and saints, pages within multi-piece historiated and ornamental border, initials and space fillers painted in gold on magenta and blue grounds, initial strokes in yellow, text ruled in red (leaves discretely foliated in ink and pencil on upper corners, trimmed close on upper and lower margins and frequently cropping signatures). 19th-century polished calf tooled in blind (light wear along spine, some scratches on boards); modern quarter morocco chemise and slipcase. Provenance: Jesuits of Antwerp (bookplate) – Albert Ehrman (1890-1969; Broxbourne bookplate and his annotations dated 1928 on front flyleaf) – acquired from Laurence Witten, Southport CT, 4 November, 1980.