Current Auction
Lot 665
Current Auction

"[Book of Hours Leaf]", Anon.

Subject: Early Printing

Period: 1550 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
4.4 x 5.8 inches
11.2 x 14.7 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 leaf on paper from an Italian prayer book is printed in black and red ink, surrounded by engraved scenes from the bible, including baby Jesus. The text is in Latin and includes part of the Athanasian Creed, one of the four authoritative Creeds of the Catholic Church. The text translates in part as:

Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance.
For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit.
But the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit have one divinity, equal glory, and coeternal majesty.
What the Father is, the Son is, and the Holy Spirit is.
The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, and the Holy Spirit is uncreated.
The Father is boundless, the Son is boundless, and the Holy Spirit is boundless.
The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, and the Holy Spirit is eternal.
Nevertheless, there are not three eternal beings, but one eternal being.
So there are not three uncreated beings, nor three boundless beings, but one uncreated being and one boundless being.

References:

Condition: A+

Clean and bright.

Estimate: $160 - $190

Current High Bid:
$0

Reserve: Reserve Not Met
Next Bid: $80

Bid Increments
$50 - $99$5
$100 - $249$10
$250 - $499$25
$500 - $999$50
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