Calendar from a Book of Hours; in Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment

ILLUMINATED CALENDAR FROM A PARISIAN PRAYER BOOK. In Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, France (likely Paris), c. 1400-1420. Dimensions 155 x 107 mm. 12 folios on parchment, (collation, one quire of twelve leaves), ruled in plummet, written in a gothic quadrata bookhand in black and red ink on 17 long lines, with 12 illuminated initials in burnished goldleaf on grounds of blue and purple with white tracery, with ivy leaf foliate and floral ornament in goldleaf extending into margin in the upper left quadrant of the leaves.

BINDING:Modern binding in quarter black Morocco. TEXT: Calendars from medieval manuscripts are rich sources for anyone who wants to learn about the medieval world. Without today's modern devices, they were how people knew what day it was and calculated the special feast days, such as Easter, that were so important to religious life. Most feasts were written in black (or dark brown) ink, whereas the more important feasts appear in red (hence, our term "red-letter day," signifying a major event). PROVENANCE: The saints recorded in red and the style of the illumination point suggest this was likely made in Paris; Folio Society, London (their inventory number MS. 2983 (?) on inside from pastedown); Marvin L. Colker (1927-2020), Colker MS 144 marked on the front cover and in pencil in the lower left margin on f. 1. CONDITION:light staining throughout, mild cockling, some initials rubbed, but generally in very good clean condition. Full description and images available (TM 1298a).