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Senate House Library, University of London

Book of Hours (Paris)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0096 MS 906

Held at: Senate House Library, University of London

Title: Book of Hours (Paris)

Date(s): Early 15th century

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 85 leaves

Name of creator(s): Unknown

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

During the late Middle Ages, the Book of Hours developed as a popular devotional text for the laity, who would recite the particular prayer for the hour of the day and time of year according to the ecclesiastical calendar. The accompanying illuminations and miniatures of saints, the Virgin Mary, and Christ provided an opportunity for spiritual reflection and prayer for salvation.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Book of Hours written in the early 15th century in northern France, possibly Paris, and including a Calendar with additions in a late 15th century hand of Saints Nectan, Urith and a translation of Richard of Chichester, as well as 'dedicacio ecclesie de Towstock' (ff.1-6v); fifteen Hours, beginning abruptly 'memoriam harum ante crucem tuam passionem' (ff.7-9v, 15r-v, 10r-v); Commemoracio Georgi martyris (ff.11-11v); Hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Use of Sarum), with the beginning of each Hour lost (ff.12-40v); Penitential psalms, beginning abruptly in Psalm 31, v. 5 'meam a domino et tu remisisti impietatem peccati mei' (ff.41-46v); the fifteen Gradual Psalms (ff.46v-48v); Litany, ending abruptly (f.48v); prayers, beginning abruptly 'pretende super famulos tuos et super cunctas congregaciones' (ff.49-49v); the Office of the Dead, beginning abruptly in Vespers, Psalm 137 v. 2 'misericordia tua et ueritate' (ff.51-69v); commendatio animae, beginning abruptly in Psalm 118, v. 20 '...re justificaciones tuas in omni tempore' (ff.70-80v); and psalms of the Passion, beginning abruptly in Psalm 21, v. 17 '...as et pedes meos' (ff.81-84v). There are also medical recipes (ff.50, 50v, 84) and prayers (ff.37v, 84v) all in English added by several hands of the late 15th and 16th century.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: Latin, English. Written in textura semi-quadrata.

System of arrangement:

Single item.

Conditions governing access:

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Physical characteristics:

Parchment. Foliated 1-9, 15, 10-59, thereafter only intermittently.
180 x 130 mm. Written space 105-9 x 70-75 mm; 20 long lines.
5-line blue initial on gold and pink field, within initial plant spray, full page border with bright green and blue branches terminating in blue and orange leaves, sometimes green and pink, and sprays of ink-drawn stems ending in little gold buds (f.29). Full-page borders, initials cut out (ff.17, 33). 5-line gold initial on blue and pink ground decorated with white filigree, with sprays extending into margin terminating in blue or pink and white three-petalled flowers (f.11). 2-line gold initials on a field of blue and pink which colours alternate inside and outside the letter, both decorated with white filigree. 1-line initials alternately in blue or gold with flourishing respectively in red or blue. Rubrics. Disbound.

Finding aids:

Collection level description.

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

The Book of Hours was created in northern France in the early 15th century, but by the later part of the century had made its way to Tawstock in Devon, as shown by the dedication of the church added to the calendar and the addition of Nectan and Urith, who are particularly associated with the West Country.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Purchased by Neil R. Ker from Maggs Bros. in 1979, and given to the Library by his executors in 1984.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

Nicholas Orne, 'Two early prayerbooks from North Devon', Devon and Cornwall notes and queries, XXXVI, Part X, Autumn 1991.

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Feb 2002


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Books of Hours | Religious texts | Religious doctrines | Theology
Illuminated manuscripts | Manuscripts | Documents | Information sources

Personal names

Corporate names

Places
London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
Paris | France | Western Europe | Europe
Tawstock | Devon | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe