Apocalypse Master’s metalcut printed leaf from a Parisian “Book of Hours”, 1510

Apocalypse Master (aka Master of the Apocalypse Rose of the Sainte Chapelle in Paris) (designer) (fl.c1480–1510)

For stylistic attributes of this designer, see Hilary Maddocks’ (2015) article: “A book of hours by Anthoine Vérard in the University of Melbourne Library” (University of Melbourne Collections, issue 16, June 2015 [https://museumsandcollections.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/2031545/05_Maddocks_Book-of-hours16.pdf]).

Leaf from a “Book of Hours” (Horae B.M.V.) (i.e. a book of “prayers to be recited at the eight canonical hours of the day [matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers and compline]”; see Maddocks op. cit.), 1510, with metalcut prints printed and published in Paris by Germain Hardouyn (possibly in collaboration with his brother Gillet Hardouyn [aka Giles Hardouyn]) (fl. 1500–1541).

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(Recto) “Sancto Stephano” (St. Stephen) with images: St Stephen”; “St. Lawrence”; “St. Francis of Assisi”; “St John” (and others).

Based on my reading of the Latin text: “De sancto stephano plen gra & fortitudie faciebat pdigia & figna magna i po pulo Iust germiabit sicutliliu” (From Saint Stephen he was full of grace and fortitude and did great things).

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(Verso) “Sancto Christoforo” (St. Christopher) with images: “St. Stephen”; “The [Four] Horsemen of the Apocalypse”; “St. Francis of Assisi” (and others).

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Metalcut images and borders with letterpress text (Gothic bastarda?) printed in black and red ink on laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 17.1 x 10.4 cm.

Condition: a leaf of strong, well-printed impressions in near pristine condition for the considerable age of the leaf with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, losses, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this rare 1510 double-sided leaf of metalcuts—note that the metalcuts are printed in the manner of woodcut prints (i.e. in relief)—for the total cost of AU$334 (currently US$248/EUR213.67/GBP180.35 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this small but technically complex printed leaf involving the printing of each side with an assembly of eight separate metalcut plates together with letterpress text in two colours, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold 

Note that some of the details have been abutted.

(Pub.) Simon Vostre’s metalcut, “The Horsemen of the Apocalypse”, c.1500

(Publisher) Simon Vostre (fl.1486–1521)

(Recto) “The Horsemen of the Apocalypse”, c.1500

(Verso) “Hunting with Hounds”, c.1500

Double-sided printed leaf, page 1003, with ornamental metalcut borders and letterpress text from a Book of Hours published in c.1500 by Simon Vostre and possibly printed by Philippe Pigouchet (fl.1488–1518).

Metalcut relief printed borders (recto and verso) and letterpress text on vellum with full margins around the image borderlines (as published).

Size: (sheet) 18.2 x 11.5 cm.

(Recto) Numbered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “M.iiij.” (Note: the letter “j” is often appended to Roman numerals if the last digit is an “i”, consequently, the number here is “1003”).

Lettered on plate with Latin text within the ornamental border: “Virgo ante partum, vir/ go in partu, et virgo post partum: fons misericordiae: fons ...”.

Note: the text is part of a favorite prayer from the late Middle Ages and often featured in Books of the Hours with the opening lines (translated):

“I beseech thee, Lady Holy Mary, Mother of God, most full of piety, daughter of the Most High King, Mother most glorious, Mother of orphans, consolation of the desolate, way of the straying, health and hope of those hoping in thee, virgin before giving birth, virgin during birth, and virgin after giving birth. I beseech thee font of mercy, font of grace and well-being, font of piety and joy, font of consolation and indulgence. I beseech thee through that holy ineffable joy …”

Condition: strong impressions with traces of glue strengthening slight tears at the edges (and perhaps helping to flatten the vellum?), otherwise the leaf is in excellent/near pristine condition for its considerable age.

I am selling this small and beautifully executed vellum leaf from a Book of Hours published by Simon Vostre in c.1500, for AU$258 (currently US$177.53/EUR158.02/GBP142.65 at the time of posting this leaf) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this fine example of an early printed leaf with metalcut borders, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold