May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
38
The Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier
The Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier, containing a variety of prayers in Latin and French addressed to the Virgin Mary, Christ and numerous saints. Central France (? Tours), last quarter of the 15th century. A Lyonnese binding of circa 1575, brown calf, the covers with a semé of fleurs de lis within gilt rules with azured arabesque corner-pieces, a central medallion on each cover containing the monograms IHS and MA surrounded by cherubs' heads which recur in the five compartments of the spine, edges rough gilt. 5 1/4 x 3 3/8 inches (13.3 x 8.8 cm); illuminated manuscript on vellum, 84 ff. in total (including fourteen flyleaves contemporary with the binding), 15 and 29 lines, apparently complete, ff. 4-32 and 63-70 written in black ink in a large batard liturgical hand, ff. 33-62 written in brown ink in a much smaller similar hand, headings in red, small initials in gold on colored backgrounds, eight large miniatures in arched compartments and sixty-seven small miniatures, full illuminated borders with floral designs, birds, snails, etc., on geometrically patterned backgrounds on every page from f. 4 to f. 32, similar narrower borders on 37 other pages. Edges and joints skilfully repaired, front joint rubbed, a few borders slightly rubbed but generally in good condition.
The binding was probably executed on an extant prayer book for Jehan Bernachier, of Moulins, a "notaire royal," who has recorded the births and baptisms of his seven children (1576-1594) on the flyleaves at the beginning. The manuscript remained in the possession of his descendants until 1796 (thirty-nine later Bernachier births, marriages and deaths are recorded on the flyleaves at the end). Members of the family held various legal offices in the "sénéchaussée" and "siege présidial" of the province of Bourbonnais (of which Moulins was the capital) and they owned the châteaux of La Mothe Morgon and Balleyne.
The subjects of the large miniatures are of the Annunciation, Christ as the Man of Sorrows, Christ in Majesty, the Coronation of the Virgin, the Trinity, the Resurrection, the Crucifixion, and the Celebration of the Mass of Saint Gregory. The many fine small miniatures depict various scenes in the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary and thirty-four other saints whose cult was popular in France (including SS. Radegund, Opportuna, Adrian and Claude). St. Catherine is shown in seven small miniatures that accompany the Hours in her honor. Though the text hand differs substantially across the three sections, the miniatures seem comparatively uniform in style, and are likely all from the one workshop, perhaps added to existing illuminated prayers.
Provenance: Sotheby's sale Berry, December 13th, 1965, lot 201
Sold for $28,800
Estimated at $10,000 - $15,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
The Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier, containing a variety of prayers in Latin and French addressed to the Virgin Mary, Christ and numerous saints. Central France (? Tours), last quarter of the 15th century. A Lyonnese binding of circa 1575, brown calf, the covers with a semé of fleurs de lis within gilt rules with azured arabesque corner-pieces, a central medallion on each cover containing the monograms IHS and MA surrounded by cherubs' heads which recur in the five compartments of the spine, edges rough gilt. 5 1/4 x 3 3/8 inches (13.3 x 8.8 cm); illuminated manuscript on vellum, 84 ff. in total (including fourteen flyleaves contemporary with the binding), 15 and 29 lines, apparently complete, ff. 4-32 and 63-70 written in black ink in a large batard liturgical hand, ff. 33-62 written in brown ink in a much smaller similar hand, headings in red, small initials in gold on colored backgrounds, eight large miniatures in arched compartments and sixty-seven small miniatures, full illuminated borders with floral designs, birds, snails, etc., on geometrically patterned backgrounds on every page from f. 4 to f. 32, similar narrower borders on 37 other pages. Edges and joints skilfully repaired, front joint rubbed, a few borders slightly rubbed but generally in good condition.
The binding was probably executed on an extant prayer book for Jehan Bernachier, of Moulins, a "notaire royal," who has recorded the births and baptisms of his seven children (1576-1594) on the flyleaves at the beginning. The manuscript remained in the possession of his descendants until 1796 (thirty-nine later Bernachier births, marriages and deaths are recorded on the flyleaves at the end). Members of the family held various legal offices in the "sénéchaussée" and "siege présidial" of the province of Bourbonnais (of which Moulins was the capital) and they owned the châteaux of La Mothe Morgon and Balleyne.
The subjects of the large miniatures are of the Annunciation, Christ as the Man of Sorrows, Christ in Majesty, the Coronation of the Virgin, the Trinity, the Resurrection, the Crucifixion, and the Celebration of the Mass of Saint Gregory. The many fine small miniatures depict various scenes in the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary and thirty-four other saints whose cult was popular in France (including SS. Radegund, Opportuna, Adrian and Claude). St. Catherine is shown in seven small miniatures that accompany the Hours in her honor. Though the text hand differs substantially across the three sections, the miniatures seem comparatively uniform in style, and are likely all from the one workshop, perhaps added to existing illuminated prayers.
Provenance: Sotheby's sale Berry, December 13th, 1965, lot 201
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, May 1, 2024
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on May 1, 2024 Totals $1.2 Million
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A Medieval Manuscript Rules of St. Augustine Achieves $102k
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding at Doyle’s May 1, 2024 auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps drove strong prices and a sale total that topped $1.2 million, surpassing expectations.
Featured in the sale was a fascinating selection of early manuscripts that achieved exceptional results. Highlighting the group was a 14th century manuscript of the Rules of St. Augustine from an English priory that soared over its $8,000-12,000 estimate to realize a stunning $102,100. The Rule of St. Augustine is among the earliest of all monastic rules, created about 400, and it was an influence on all that succeeded it. Other notable results included a 14th century Etymologiae of St. Isidore estimated at $5,000-8,000 that achieved $51,200 and a 15th century Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier estimated at $10,000-15,000 that sold for $28,800.
A first edition of John James Audubon's octavo Birds of America sold for $41,600, far over its $25,000-35,000 estimate. Published in 1840-1844 in seven volumes, the first octavo edition was the final Birds of America publication overseen by Audubon in his lifetime.
The Fred Rotondaro Collection offered rare books and manuscripts on a range of subjects touching the African American experience in the United States over three centuries. A first edition copy of Frederick Douglass’ 1876 speech at the unveiling of the Freedman's Monument in Washington realized $12,800, far exceeding its $3,000-5,000 estimate. A first edition of the first issue of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin from 1852 also achieved $12,800.
Highlighting the range of offerings from the Ken Harte Collection of Natural History was a first edition Richard Bowdler Sharpe’s beautifully illustrated monograph of Kingfishers, 1868-71, that sold for $14,080, doubling its $6,000-8,000 estimate. It was accompanied by an inscribed copy of the rare unfinished chapter on the anatomy of the kingfisher by James Murie.
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Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
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