A Late Medieval Prayer Book.
A small illuminated manuscript prayerbook of long prayers, the latin script believed to be in bastard hand.
Black ink on vellum with red and blue initials and a small amount of red ink letter heightening, sixteen lines to the page, double sided on seventy-two leaves (one line to final leaf) measuring 100mm x 75mm. 1r and 29v each with large gilt and colour capital and foliate marginal decoration to margins, elaborate red and blue capital to 5v and 57r, large colour capital to 61v, prayers marked by small copper fore-edge tabs, leaf stub between leaves 8 and 9, final prayer (leaves 71-72) written in later hand.
An ink inscription to the front pastedown identifies the book as 14th century The archivist Christopher Whittick, who examined the book in the 1980’s, thought it more likely to be 15th century and of European, possibly Dutch origin.
Gilt armorial to front pastedown (fox rampant under three stars), paper label of George Dunn of Woolley Hall to rear pastedown. Dunn’s pencil price code to front blank. Bound in original or early velvet covered wooden boards (rubbed, wear to spine), possibly made to be carried around in a ladies handbag.
[‘The Valuable & Extensive Library formed by George Dunn, Esq. (deceased), Woolley Hall, Near Maidenhead …’, was sold by Sotheby’s in three sales from 1913 to 1915]