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.

Fine vellum leaf written in black ink with numerous small initials and line fillers illuminated in red, brown and gold. The leaf contains the majority of Te Deum, a traditional hymn of joy and thanksgiving, and translates in part as:

To Thee all the Angels, the Heavens and all the Powers,
All the Cherubim and Seraphim, unceasingly proclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
The wonderful company of Prophets,
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Holy Church throughout the world doth acknowledge Thee:
The Father of infinite Majesty;
Thy adorable, true and only Son;
And the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!

References:

Condition: B+

Some marginal stains.