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"[Book of Hours Leaf]", Anon.

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.

Unusual vellum leaf printed in Gothic textura type with illuminated capitals in red, blue and burnished gold leaf. The text is surrounded by elaborate iron engravings that include plants and animals, as well as dragons and a unicorn. These leaves are from the transitional period when the new technology of printing with movable type was combined with the more labor intensive methods of hand painting. Printed vellum Book of Hours leaves are very scarce, as they were only produced between 1496 and 1530. The text combines French and Latin with a French note regarding the indulgence prayer of Pope Boniface, followed by the prayer in Latin. The French translates as:

Pope Boniface has given to all who will devoutly say this prayer that ensues, between the elevation of Corpus Domini and the last Agnus Dei, two thousand years of true forgiveness.

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Condition: A

A bright sheet with minor marginal soiling.