Text written by one hand in a Northern Textualis script in black ink. Text written above the line, with the descenders of the “g”, “p” and “q” just below the line. The scribe used both the double-bow “a” and a modified box “a”. According to Derolez, the horizontal line at the bottom of a box “a” meets, but in this case it does not. The double-bow “a” is always used at the beginning of words while the modified box “a” is used either within or at the end of words.

A single leaf of parchment. Notches (from sewing) can be seen on inner edge where binding held the leaf. Top corner shows use-related staining, likely from turning the page. Evidence of mounting tape on top corners of recto.

According to Susie Nash’s analysis of manuscript illumination in Amiens, marginal decoration may suggest production date of 1410-1425 (254). Decoration can also be compared to f. 105v of a full Book of Hours c. 1420 thought to be produced in the Paris workshop of the Bedford Master, now housed at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

General: One-line painted initials in burnished gold on blue and red-rose square fields with white filigree patterns, each colour placed alternatively inside and ouside the letter for all but two initials. In these cases, both colours are used together on the inside and outside of the initial. Depending on the initial, cusps are either slight or moderate.  

Verso: One two-line decorated initial “D” on a burnished gold background. The “D” is painted in hues of pink and white. The enclosed portion of the letter is decorated with a seven-pointed snowflake-shape, the top painted in shades of pink and the bottom in shades of blue. The left hand edge of the initial, which extends into the border decoration, is cusped to follow the shape of the letter. Emanating from each of the two cusped edges of the “D” is black pen rinceaux, with ivy decoration in gold, and three small flowers (one red, two blue). A green fruit is depicted at the end of the top vine while a strawberry is painted near the bottom.

Purchased by Alison Kilford in August 2022 from antiquarian bookseller Sanderus, located in Ghent, Belgium, and a member of the International Antiquarian Mapsellers Association. Comment on the leaf from the bookseller states “Feuillet d’un livre d’heures Francais. Manuscrit enluminé sur vélin. Paris, ca. 1450.”