The religions of the Book

Recto-verso fragment of a manuscript book of hours on parchment with sumptuously illuminated full-page borders. This compartmentalized division of the ornaments is representative of the production of Rouen and Parisian workshops at the turn of the 16th century.

Two illuminated pages on a recto-verso leaf: border divided into bands and flowers decorated with floral motifs and leafy designs, gilt initials painted in alternating red and blue and rubrics.
The richness of the illumination characterizes these liturgical books intended for laypeople. Books of hours were at the time jewels of piety, both an instrument of religious practice and a social...

Recto verso fragments of a manuscript book of hours on parchment with sumptuously illuminated full-page borders. This division into compartments of the ornaments is representative of the production of Rouen and Parisian workshops at the turn of the 16th century.

Two illuminated pages on a recto verso leaf: border divided into bands and fleur-de-lis decorated with floral motifs and scrollwork, gilt initials painted in alternating red and blue and rubrications.
The richness of the illumination characterizes these liturgical books intended for laypeople. Books of hours were at the time jewels of piety, both an instrument of religious practice and a...

Recto verso fragments of a manuscript Book of Hours on parchment with sumptuously illuminated full-page borders. This compartmentalized division of ornaments is representative of the production of Rouen and Parisian workshops at the turn of the 16th century.

Two illuminated pages on a recto verso leaf: the border is divided into bands decorated with floral motifs and leafy designs, gilt initials painted in alternating red and blue and rubriques.
The richness of the illumination characterizes these liturgical books intended for laypeople. Books of Hours were at the time jewels of piety, both an instrument of religious practice and a social claim...

Recto verso fragments of a manuscript book of hours on parchment with sumptuously illuminated full-page borders. This compartmentalized division of ornaments is representative of the production of Rouen and Parisian workshops at the turn of the 16th century.

Two illuminated pages on a recto verso leaf: border divided into bands decorated with floral motifs and foliate scrolls, gilt initials painted in alternating red and blue and rubrics.
The richness of the illumination characterizes these liturgical books intended for laypeople. Books of hours were at the time jewels of piety, both an instrument of religious practice and a social statement...

First edition of this revised and illustrated version of François de Ligny’s Histoire de la vie de Jésus-Christ, published in Paris in 1804 under the supervision of the Abbé de Sambucy. The work is illustrated with 75 plates - 40 in volume I, including the frontispiece, and 35 in volume II, likewise including the frontispiece - engraved under the direction of L. Petit after paintings from the Italian, French and Flemish schools, together with a folding map of Palestine. Entirely printed on laid paper watermarked “Vie de J.C.”

First edition, one of 1000 numbered copies on special paper called "Hôcho", the only printing along with 12 deluxe copies and 6 hors commerce copies.
Work illustrated with 14 drawings in the text by Audrey Parr engraved on wood by Bonkotsu Igami, "following the Japanese process", with a color composition by Keisen Tomita (on verso), engraved by Bonkotsu Igami, an autograph poem in facsimile, title page drawn by Noémi Pernessin.
Rare and very handsome copy without any foxing, spine of the blue percaline chemise slightly faded as usual.
Provenance: from the library of Doctor Lucien-Graux with his pasted bookplate.

First edition. Title page in red and black. Title vignette with the arms of Dauphiné flanked by 2 angels. Manuscript inscriptions from the 16th century in the margins of the title page, the one at the bottom of the page recalling the history of Humbert bequeathing Dauphiné to the eldest son of the King of France. On the last leaf, manuscript ex libris, as well as on the verso of the first blank leaf: Je suis l'abbé de Pinet et de Cours ["I am the abbot of Pinet and Cours"].

Title inside the volume in the upper margin: Statuta Delphinatus. Gothic printing in 2 columns of 45 lines. Brunet, J.-C. Manuel du libraire et de l'amateur de livres (5th ed.) II, 1812. As Brunet specifies...

The rare first edition, illustrated with a handsome frontispiece by Van der Laan and engraved by Bernart. Title pages printed in red and black. Attribution to Bruys is sometimes contested by bibliographers. Two letters defending the work against criticism can be found in volumes I and III.

Contemporary mottled sheep binding. Richly decorated raised spine. Red morocco title labels, brown morocco volume labels. Head of volume I partly lacking, volumes III and IV torn away, same at tail of volume IV. Worming to boards, quite present on the boards of volume IV. Joints of volume IV cracked. Despite the defects, spines in good appearance.
The work became a constantly...

Original unsigned burin engraving probably by Claes Jansz Visscher, known as Piscator.
Printed on watermarked laid paper, in the early 17th century.
This is an illustration of the Gospel according to Matthew 2-12,

"Then, being divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way."

Latin caption in the lower part of the engraving. Numbered mention "12" in the lower right corner within the engraving, and manuscript mention "17" in margin in the upper right corner. An old manuscript annotation in Greek characters under the right corner of the plate mark. Crown watermark. Minor foxing and...