Livre d'Heures, ou Offices de l'Eglise illustrés d'après les manuscrits de la Bibliothèque du Roi.
Paris: Chez Aline Guilbert, Libraire, 1843. 5 x 8. (13), 92, (2) pages with elaborate borders and initials, all hand colored and gilded by a very fine hand. An exquisite labor of love. Bound by L. Claessens et Fils in a morocco plaque binding tooled in gold. Its original silk-lined leather box is worn & stained; but it has kept this Livres d'Heures in perfect condition. In. Item #18246
This is the first issue, with a Dedication page to Marie-Amélie Queen of France (queen from 1830 to 1848). Later issues have necessarily omitted that leaf.
Claessens' engraved plaque binding features the Messenger Angel speaking to Mary (front cover) and the Nativity scene (rear cover). Both are titled in German. Symbols of the 4 Apostles anchor the 4 corners. Bound for Valerie Goethals and Eliza Goethals, whose names are gilt on the Green moire endpapers. All edges gilt. Signed on the wide gilt turn-ins.
Dragons to dragonflies, peacocks to hummingbirds, flora & fauna, rural & religious figures historiate these exquisite borders. Eugène Duverger, known for his fine work, printed this book in black. The Hours were intended to be hand colored. This copy is gloriously colored. (The University of California's digitized copy is uncolored.) The illustrations are based on Medieval mss. Printed in French in lettre batarde. The final leaf, on different paper and inexpertly painted, is for recording dates of First Communion and Marriage. They haven't been used.
Price: $2,500.00