[Livre d'heures] - Heures choisies des Dames Chrétiennes [Reliure de Lesort] - 1860

Remarkable book of hours published in Dijon in 1860, decorated with rich religious calligraphy entirely chromolithographed by A. Leroy, a special house of religious illustrations, in the style of 14th and 15th-century illuminated manuscripts.

Work fully assembled on tabs.

All pages are printed on thick Japanese-style paper. The text is framed by numerous floral decorations with gold highlights. It is complemented by five unbound miniatures and beautiful title pages.

Bound in a Lesort-signed binding, in full morocco leather in cherry red, decorated with four corner fleurons and a monogram with Gothic letters in the center of the front cover. The spine is blind-ruled. Interior turn-ins, pastedowns, and endpapers lined with red silk moiré. Gilded edges. Metal clasps (broken). Comes with a black wooden box, interior lined with cream silk.

Édouard and Adolphe Lesort were prominent Parisian bookbinders active in the 19th century. Their workshop, E. & A. Lesort, was located at 3 rue de Grenelle, near Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. The Lesort house specialized in the creation of high-quality bindings, often for religious texts and special occasions such as weddings. They were renowned for their expertise in Jansenist binding, characterized by a simple exterior and a richly decorated interior.

In very good condition. Damaged box and scuffed on the edges. Solid binding, minimal scuffing on the spines and headbands. Impeccable interior.

Selected Hours of the Christian Ladies approved by His Excellency the Bishop of Dijon, taken from manuscripts from the 12th to the 17th century belonging to the collection of Mr. H. Baudot in Dijon.
Lesort, Pellion Paris, Dijon 1860
1 volume. In-12 (15.5 x 12.5 cm); of 2 unnumbered leaves, CCVIII pages.