Book of Hours were prayer books designed for the laity, but modeled on the Divine Office, a cycle of daily devotions, prayers and readings, performed by members of religious orders and the clergy. Its central text is the Hours of the Virgin. There are eight hours (times for prayer ): Matins, Lauds. Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline. During the Middle Ages, the leaves making up a Book of Hours were written by hand on expensive parchment and beautifully illuminated with jewel-like pigments and gold leaf. These illuminated manuscripts combined the collaborative efforts of an array of highly skilled craftspeople; requiring the joint labors of the parchmenter, professional scribes to write the text in Gothic script, artists to illuminate the pages with decorations, and masterful binders to complete the process.

This decorative leaf is from an Italian Book of Hours. This buttery vellum leaf has text written in brown ink with delicate pen work in red and blue. The text includes part of Psalm 118, and beginning with the large "A" at the bottom of the leaf on recto, translates in part as:

My soul has adhered to the pavement. Revive me according to your word.
I have declared my ways, and you have heeded me. Teach me your justifications.
Instruct me in the way of your justifications, and I will be trained in your wonders.
My soul has slumbered because of weariness. Confirm me in your words.
Remove the way of iniquity from me, and have mercy on me by your law.
I have chosen the way of truth. I have not forgotten your judgments.
I have adhered to your testimonies, O Lord. Do not be willing to confound me.
I have run by way of your commandments, when you enlarged my heart.
O Lord, place the law before me, the way of your justifications, and I will always inquire into it.
Give me understanding, and I will examine your law. And I will keep it with my whole heart.
Lead me according to the path of your commandments, for I have desired this.

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Condition: A

The ink is faded in some spots and there is minor marginal soiling.