Book of Hours of Coutances (Normandy), in Latin, Use of Rome.

Sm. 4to (175 x 125 mm): [123] ff., vellum, Latin text in a brown Gothic hand on 15 lines (writing area 100 x 77 mm), 2 vellum endlvs at each side with ms. annotations and prayers (illuminated lvs slightly cropped, some stains or smudges, some sm. parts of painting chipped).

Modern vellum over wooden boards, spine with raised bands, red edges.

Content: (1) The Passion of Christ from the gospels by SS. John, Luke, Matthew and Mark (with 1 miniature); (2) The Calendar in French; (3) The Canonical Hours (Matins (1 miniature), Prime, Laudes, Tierce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline); (4) Antiphons; (5) Hours of the Holy Ghost; (6) Sevens Psalms and Litany of Saints; (7) "Vespres des trespasses" and "Matines des trespasses"; (8) "Oraison de Nostre Dame" and Suffrages.
Illumination: At (1) miniature depicting Christ before Pilate (80 x 62 mm) with three-quarter floral border; at (3) miniature depicting the Annunciation to the Virgin (90 x 60 mm) with four-quarter border incorporating 4 medallions at the corners, 3 of them with the representations of the Evangelists John, Luke and Mark, and the 4th one with a dedication scene figuring the enthroned Madonna.
Decoration: 2 leaves with four-quarter borders, a 1st one (at (3)) with a four-line historiated initial depicting the Nativity and two medallions at the bottom depicting the Adoration of the Magi and the Annunciation to the Shepherds; a 2nd one (at (7) with 3 medallions figuring funeral scenes; 8 leaves with tree-quarter floral borders; and finaly, 2 text leaves with mounted borders at right and at bottom. All in brilliant colours, painted and burnished gold.
Localisation: Coutances (Normandie): dedication of Coutances on July 12th, "reliques" de Coutances on Sept. 30th, S. Maur on Jan. 10th.
Prov. J.B. Duydé (?) (bought at the auction of Jean Lorido, benedictine prior and rector at Mauves (Mauves-sur-Loire) who died in 1698, ms. note). - C.C. de Bourlamaque, i.e. Claude Charles de Bourlamaque (?), brother of François Charles, governor of Guadeloupe (18th c. arm. stamp). - D.L.R. de Saint-Victor (id.).