AUTHOR: DIRC VAN DELF

LANGUAGE: DUTCH, LATIN

DATE: 1404

PAGE #: 342

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS MANUSCRIPTS IS DOCUMENTATION OF THE FIRST IMPORTANCE IN THE HISTORY OF DUTCH MANUSCRIPT ILLUMINATION AND IT CONTAINS AN IMPORTANT MEDIEVAL DUTCH DEVOTIONAL TEXT. TTHE TAFEL VAN DEN KERSTEN GHELOVE (TABLE OF CHRISTIAN FAITH) IS A COMPENDIUM OF CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, WRITTEN BY A LEARNED DOMINICAN, DIRC VAN DELF. THE TEXT IS IN TWO PARTS ONE FOR WINTER AND THE OTHER FOR SUMMER. THIS IS THE WINTER PORTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT AND IS INCOMPLETE, OMITTING THE PROLOGUE AND CHAPTERS 13, 14, AND 35-57. CHAPTERS 23 AND 24 HAVE BEEN PLACED IN INVERSE ORDER. THE ARMS OF THE BAVARIAN COUNTS OF HOLLAND AND THE KNEELING OWNED ON FOLIO 1 RECTO, INDICATE THAT THIS MANUSCRIPT WAS THE ACTUAL COPY PREPARED FOR THE DEDICATEE OF THE TEXT, ALBRECHT OF BAVARIA, COUNT OF HOLLAND FROM THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF HIS CHAPLAIN. IT IS THEREFORE DATED TO 1404 AT THE LATEST, WHEN ALBRECHT DIED.

THE MANUSCRIPT CONTAINS 165 FOLIOS AND 35 HISTORIATED INITIALS. THE MINIATURES WERE PAINTED BY TWO PAINTERS WITH DIFFERENT STYLES, THE FIRST PAINTER USED A SOFT AND PAINTERLY STYLE WHILE THE SECOND PAINTED USED A STRONGER STYLE WITH BRIGHTER COLORS.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.