Les Petites Heures du Duc de Berry

TITLE: Les Petites Heures du Duc de Berry, Faksimile Verlag Luzern, 1988. 2 volumes with Commentary. Limited edition - no. 412 of 980 copies. _____DESCRIPTION: Vol. 1 (Facsimile): 8 3/4 x 6 1/2 inches (22 x 16.5 cm). full black morocco binding, 5 raised bands on spine. Spine and ribs elaborately decorated with gilt designs, light pink-tan leather label with gilt titling. Trimmed double pages with 3-sided gold text block edges (gilt, hand-engraved capital. 288 leaves with 119 gold and silver-decorated miniature pages and over 300 other magnificently decorated pages. Vol2. (Commentary volume): 8 5/8 x 6 inches (21.7 x 15.5 cm), 461 pages. Commentary is in the French language. Extensive commentary by François Avril, Louisa Dunlop and Brunsdon Yapp. Contains B&W reproductions of the illustrations in the facsimile. Both volume contained within a plexiglass case with sliding front panel opening._____CONDITION: Several faint superficial scratches on the top and bottom black plexiglass panels, clear side panels intact. Facsimile volume in fine condition. Vol. 2 Commentary Volume shows several faint scuffs in the tan-pink leather label, interior contents in fine condition. Two folders (each 4 pages), one in German and one in French, providing a list of illuminations in the facsimile have small ares of damp staining at the lower right-hand corner (see photo)._____DESCRIPTION: This is a facsimile of one of the most famous and beautiful illuminated medieval Books of Hours, the original kept in the Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris. It was commissioned by Jean, Duc de Berry between 1375 and 1385-1390. It is renowned for the richness and delicacy of the painting and the ornate miniature leaves and border decorations. Few, if any, other medieval illuminated manuscripts or Books of Hours contain such a wealth of pictorial decoration. The Prävag/Deutsche publishing house ensured that the letters and miniatures enhanced with gold leaf, were reproduced from the original. The binding with its gilded decoration and raised bands is in every respect identical to the original. It was hand-made in the Burkhardt workshops in Mönchaltorf, Zurich. The Faksimile Verlag Zurich is renowned for the accuracy and quality of their medieval facsimiles. _____NOTE: International shipping cost to the United Kingdom and Europe is $55 U.S. dollars.