Catalog Archive
Auction 129, Lot 876

"[Book of Hours Leaf]", Kerver, Thielman

Subject: Early Printing

Period: 1507 (published)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
4.3 x 6.6 inches
10.9 x 16.8 cm
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This leaf is from the brief transitional period when the new technology of printing with movable type was combined with the more labor intensive methods of hand painting. The earliest printers were trained in the manuscript tradition and incorporated the conventions of historiated initials and illustrations into their early work. At first they left those spaces blank for the illuminator to complete entirely by hand. Later they developed printing methods (using woodcuts or iron engravings) to decorate the leaves.

This fine leaf is printed on vellum in black and red with many initials hand painted in red, blue and gold. The illustrations around the text depict scenes from the Old and New Testament with the captions in red. The text is from the Song of Zachary [Luke].

References:

Condition: B

There is a vellum repair in the upper margin, affecting the border on the verso.

Estimate: $120 - $180

Sold for: $90

Closed on 9/23/2009

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