Books of Hours (manuscript)

c. 1450

De Beer MS.1

Not published

All the bound medieval manuscripts in the de Beer Collection were gifted to the University Library by Willi Fels. This delicate Italian manuscript is a Book of Hours, a religious work that contains a selection of short Offices, prayers and devotions, and a liturgical calendar. Books of Hours are the most numerous survivors of medieval manuscripts; almost every good household owned one. The text of this mid-fifteenth century (c.1450) work is all hand-written on fine vellum (treated calf skin). The blue and red rubrication is present, and the leaf displayed has a sliver of real gold in one initial.