This interesting piece consists of a fabulous illuminated initial from a medieval antiphonal pasted onto a sheet of vellum parchment with Latin text and the date 1875 written below. The initial A (of the word Anno) is beautifully illuminated with burnished gold leaf. It is probably from a French manuscript, circa 1400. In the nineteenth century all things medieval became the rage and the art of illumination was taught to young gentlewomen. It was also a popular pastime to cut out initials from manuscripts no longer in use.