HOURS FOR ROME. Horae in laudem beatissimae virginis Mariae, - Lot 59

HOURS FOR ROME. Horae in laudem beatissimae virginis Mariae, ad usum Romanum. Paris, Simon de Colines, 1543. In-4, red morocco, framed with gilt and cold-stamped fillets, large oriental cartouche stamped in the center with the middle in reserve, spine decorated with fillets and a small repeated fleuron, green edges, green cloth box (Italian binding from the second half of the 16th century). Brun, p. 217. - Lacombe, n°426. - Mortimer, n°306. - Renouard, Colines, pp. 378-379. One of the masterpieces of French Renaissance illustrated books. First quarto edition of this beautiful book of hours printed by Simon de Colines. He published another edition the same year, in octavo format. The edition is printed in Roman typeface and opens with a title printed in red and black, set in a wood-engraved frame decorated with vegetal friezes with bucrania and statues of female busts. The text is printed in red and black, and each page is bordered by a frame chosen from a set of 16 models classified into two different types: the first consists of 8 single-line engraved frames in the manner of Geoffroy Tory, decorated with candelabra, loves and cherubs, grotesques, antique-style foliage, etc., and the second of 8 other single-line engraved frames in the manner of Geoffroy Tory, and the second with 8 other black-engraved frames adorned with arabesques or Aldine fleurons, very reminiscent of contemporary bindings. Some of these frames were used by Colines to decorate the titles of some of his books. Some of these woodcuts bear the dates 1536, 1537 or 1539. 14 large full-page woodcuts, each with its own frame, illustrate this book of hours. This is the first edition. These fine woodcuts are finely engraved, and seven of them are marked with the cross of Lorraine. With the exception of the line-engraved figure of St. John, they all feature shaded effects and meticulous detail. Mortimer indicates that they were designed not to be colored. The almanac on the verso of the title is given for the years 1543 to 1568, i.e. 26 years. A handsome, well-adjusted copy in a red morocco binding from the second half of the 16th century, with the edges painted in a beautiful verdigris hue. The gilt-backed, oriental-inspired ironwork on the boards is of a remarkable design: the indentation it leaves in the thickness of the board highlights the empty central medallion, which thus appears in relief. From the Miniscalchi (engraved armorial bookplate with Biblioteca Miniscalchi) and Georges Wendling libraries. The last 2 leaves are slightly detached. Headbands restored; nerves, hinges and edges a little marked. Small but not severe wetness on 2 leaves.