Book of Hours: Canon Grandel’s Prayer Book, France, Lille, 15th century, Gold and iron gall ink on parchment, On loan from Western University, Archives & Special Collections, MS BX2080.C365 1500

Book of Hours: Canon Grandel’s Prayer Book, France, Lille, 15th century, Gold and iron gall ink on parchment, On loan from Western University, Archives & Special Collections, MS BX2080.C365 1500

Prayer books in the Christian tradition (or 'Books of Hours') list the regular set times and appropriate prayers for every day of the year. The Latin masculine word endings of the prayers reveal that this book was made for a male user, perhaps a monk at the Capuchin friary in the northern French city of Lille. MicroCT scans show that this book has a 'ghost binding'--empty sewing holes and other traces of the original medieval binding, removed more than 300 years ago when the book was rebound with its current cover.

Western University

15th century

Western University

Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.0 cm

Materials: Gold and iron gall ink on parchment

Latin

Western University MS BX2080.C365 1500

France, Lille