i (parchment) + 28 + i (parchment) folios on parchment, complete (collation i-iv6 v4), no catchwords or signatures, ruled very lightly in lead (justification 90 x 56-53 mm.), written in a mannered gothic bookhand by one scribe in fifteen long lines, red rubrics, two- to one-line red or blue initials with yellowish-green or red pen decoration respectively, one three-line red initial with... The contents of the volume, lives of the very popular St. Nicholas of Myra, the early Christian bishop and miracle worker-provider of gifts for children everywhere (and the prototype for Santa Claus), and the important early Christian martyrs, St. Vitalis, St. Agatha, and St. Agnes, show signs of being copied from either a liturgical source, or a collection of saints lives for devotional... Inscription in gold ink on rear flyleaf: Ce liure a été fait pour Princesse Louise Henriette Gabrielle, Duchesse de Lor[aine] à l'occasion de son soixante dixième anniversaire. Armorial bookplate apparently added after the owner's lifetime, possibly from original binding: La princesse de Turenne née Princesse de Lorraine. Title devised by cataloger. Manuscript codex. Collation: Parchment, fol. ii (i is pastedown) + 28 (foliated 1-28 in later pencil) + ii (ii is pastedown) ; 1-46 54 ; quires unsigned. Layout: Written 14 or 15 long lines, above line; ruled in lead with inner and outer vertical bounding lines. Script: Written in 18th-century imitation of Gothic bookhand. Decoration: Red rubrics. One- to two-line red or blue initials with yellowish green or red pen decoration respectively. 1 three-line red initial with yellowish-green and red pen decoration on fol. 24v. 1 six-line modelled blue initial with elaborate red penwork on fol. 22v. 24 illuminated initials, four- to six-line, with extensions up to ten line; initials are white-patterned blue, pink... Binding: brown pigskin over boards; arms of La Tour d'Auvergne, viscountcy of Turenne painted in full color on front cover; blind tooled border across covers and spine. Origin: Produced likely in France around 1788 for the 70th birthday of Louise-Henriette-Gabrielle de Lorraine (December 30, 1718-September 5, 1778). "Ce liure a été fait pour Princesse Louise Henriette Gabrielle, Duchesse de Lor[aine] à l'occasion de son soixante dixième anniversaire" (rear flyleaf). Engraved armorial bookplate of Louise-Henriette-Gabrielle of Lorraine, showing the coats of arms of her husband and father, on front pastedown: "La princesse de Turenne née Princesse de Lorraine." Pencil inscription on rear pastedown, possibly from a bookseller: "Wells [or Evells?], 10518." Bookseller's pencil inventory number from bookseller Les Enluminures: "TM 1091." Shelfmark: Chicago, IL, University of Chicago, Ms1486.
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