Single leaf on parchment, c. 170 x 117 mm, with single sided partial border of ivy vine, acanthus leaves, fruits and flowers rendered in yellow, red, green, blue, gold leaf, and pink to the recto and verso.
This leaf is ruled in ink, c. 101 x 62 mm (ruled), written on seventeen lines in brown ink in a gothic textualis script, with rubrics and headers in red, two-line initials in blue and red with white flourishes on gold grounds.
 
The text contains the Gospels of Saint John and Saint Luke, which often follow the calendar in a Book of Hours. The top of the recto reads, ‘et mu[n]dus eu[m] non cognovit’, (‘and the world knew him not’). The Gospel of Saint John continues to the verso, and the Gospel of Luke begins midway down, opening with a decorated initial, ‘Missus est angelus Gabriel a deo’, (‘The angel Gabriel was sent by God’).
 
A very good example, slight rubbing to the borders, minimal wear to the script, rippling and some discolouration to upper and lower parts of the parchment.
 
This leaf comes mounted in a gold frame and conservation grade glass to the recto, with 2 mm glass to the verso. The leaf has been displayed with the verso facing. c. 330 x 250 mm (frame).
 
This charming leaf comes from a Book of Hours, a personal prayer book from the Medieval period used for private devotion. The text is adapted from the Divine Office for lay use and were best sellers.