BOOK OF HOURS] - Lot 6

BOOK OF HOURS] Book of Hours for use in Rome; workshop in central France, last third of the 14th century. One volume, in-16 (height: 12.2 cm) bound in brown calfskin, ribbed spine decorated with fleurons and stylized silver thistles, framed by a triple blind-stamped border on the covers, silver fleurons at the corners, and a large silver fleuron bearing the emblems of the Passion (“Arma Christi”) at the center. Late 16th-century Parisian binding; presented in a fawn calfskin slipcase, covers framed by a double blind-stamped border, large label on the upper cover in long-grain red morocco bearing an inscription in gold letters (slipcase from the second half of the 19th century). The body of the manuscript is preceded and followed by 7 white paper endpapers. (127) ff. (out of 128). Margins: 11.5 x 8.9 cm. Unpaginated and unsigned. Contains fillers (added when the binding was made). Collation by quires: a 12 b-f 8 g 9 h 4 i-p 8. Leaf b 1 is missing (as is p 8, which was likely blank). Contents: Leaves [1] through [12]: Liturgical calendar (of the Diocese of Puys-en-Velais). Note the feasts of Saint Enimie (October 6), Saint Géraud (October 13), and Saint Théofrède (or Saint Chaffre) on November 19. Leaf [13] is missing (beginning of the Office of the Virgin). Leaves [14] through [72] (h4): Office of the Virgin. [Note: leaf h1 is mounted on a tab]. Folio [73]: blank. Folios [74]r° to [82]v°: Seven Penitential Psalms. Folios [83]r° to [89]v°: Litany of the Saints Leaves [90]r° to [120]r°: Office of the Dead Leaves [121]r° to [128]r°: Suffrages and prayers. Followed by an added blank parchment leaf. Manuscript on vellum, in Gothic script, ruled with graphite, initials in blue and red with filigree bodies and antennae in the margins drawn with a pen, some of which are very long and thread-like, adorned with small stylized flowers; two larger initials in purple and blue with descending tendrils featuring a motif of half-fleurs-de-lis in green, purple, blue, and red. 15th-century handwritten annotations in the margins and long handwritten inscriptions by the same scribe (various prayers) on blank spaces left in the original manuscript. At the beginning of certain prayers in the original manuscript, the annotator transcribed musical staves (plainchant notations) in the margin. Provenance: An inscription in gold letters on the upper cover of the case reads: “14th-century Book of Hours found in Usson, formerly part of Queen Marguerite’s library. It bears the marks of Henry III’s bookbinder.” We will see later that this attribution is, to say the least, speculative… A handwritten note (from the 19th century) on a piece of paper pasted onto one of the blank pages at the end of the volume transcribes the handwritten bookplate left by one of the volume’s former owners. According to this note, the bookplate dates from the 15th century. “Dominus Jhoannes Marrone, monacus nepotz magistri Claudii Allisii, notarii” (Sir Jehan Marrone, monk, nephew of Master Claude Allisier, notary). This handwritten bookplate, which is indeed from the 15th century, appears at the top of folio [125]. This bookplate appears in different forms at least twice in the volume (the first time at the top of the January page of the liturgical calendar, though this inscription is partially erased). Another handwritten note provides an excerpt (in Latin) from *Gallia Christiana* (Volume II, p. 761) regarding the Monastery of St. Chaffre (“The Monastery of Monastier-Saint-Chaffre, commonly known as Le Monestier, Calmeliacum, or the distinguished and ancient monastery of Saint Theofred of the Order of Saint Benedict, is situated on the banks of the Gazeille, a river that flows into the Loire near the village commonly known as Colempce, one league from that famous abbey. It is situated at the foot of Mount Mézenc, from which the Loire River has its source, and is three leagues from the town of Le Puy-en-Velay. It was founded in honor of the Prince of the Apostles by Calminius, Duke of Auvergne, and is known by various names: Calminium, Calmelium, Calminiacum, Calmeliacense monasterium.” This note is signed by Michel Cohendy (1811–1889), archivist of the Puy-de- Dôme department, author notably of the *Inventory of All Charters Dating from Before the 13th Century, Preserved in the Puy-de-Dôme* (1855) and *Lettres missives, la plupart autographes, inédites, de la reine Marguerite de Valois* (Clermont-Ferrand, 1881). As for attributing ownership of this volume to Marguerite de Valois, neither an examination of the old ownership marks nor an examination of the binding confirm the hypothesis that it belonged to Marguerite de Valois, who was imprisoned at the Château d’Usson from 1586 to 1605 by order of her brother