FROM A NOTED MISSAL IN LATIN

France, mid-15th century. 360 x 265 mm. (14 1/8 x 10 1/2"). Double column, 30 lines, in an elegant gothic book hand.
Rubrics in red, four one-line initials and two seven-line initials in burnished gold on blue and pink ground with white embellishments, both sides with a pink, blue, and burnished gold bar along the outside of each column, all terminating in colorful acanthus leaves, BOTH SIDES WITH A FULL BORDER composed of densely twined hairline vines, gilt ivy leaves, and colorful flowers on all sides and down the middle of the column. ◆Vellum slightly wavy and yellowed at edges (and with a little spotting in lower margin of recto, other minor faults, but still quite an excellent leaf with beautiful decoration.

Sparkling with burnished gold initials and hundreds of ivy leaves, this large, beautifully decorated leaf must have come from a costly manuscript that could not help but impress. Although this particular leaf contains no musical notation, the presence of music on one of its sister leaves indicates that the original manuscript was likely a noted Missal, containing all the texts and chant pieces for Masses throughout the Christian year. The gold in the six initials here is very thickly applied and richly burnished..