OFFICE DES MORTS, for the use of Bayeux, fragment... Lot 6

OFFICE DES MORTS, for the use of Bayeux, fragment of a Book of Hours, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Normandy, last quarter of the 15th century]. Important fragment of a Norman Book of Hours containing the Office of the Dead and the Hours of the Cross and the Holy Spirit, illuminated by the Atelier du Maitre de l'Echevinage de Rouen, a prolific Rouen artist of the second half of the 15th century. 204 x 145 mm. i (paper) + 50 + i (vellum) leaves, modern foliotation 1-49, 16 lines, one large miniature, 6 borders on ff. 28, 32v,35, 37v, 39 and 41v, several initials on gold ground (missing the end of the Office of the Dead and the beginning of the Hours of the Cross and the Holy Spirit, some tiny stains in the margins, small losses of colour in the miniature). Bound in 18th century red cardboard (lightly rubbed). Provenance : (1) According to the 19th century inscription on the first page: the bishop of St Denis and (2) Louis César de la Baume le Blanc, duke of La Vallière (1708-1780). The same provenance can be found in a book of hours for the use of Troyes sold at Christie's on December 1, 2015, lot 16. (3) A. Czechowski: his signature and stamp with the initials 'A.C.' on the ff.i and 1. Contents: Office of the Dead, for the use of Bayeux, ff.1-24v (incomplete) Hours of the Cross and of the Holy Spirit (miniatures are missing) ff.25-38v Obsecro te and O intemerata ff.39-44v extracts from the Gospels ff.45-49v. - (USD 2,337 - USD 3,505) To bid, please see the "Auction Information" section.