IM-13378:   Calendar Leaf  for AUGUST      - Original leaf from a French medieval illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. 17 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin with black and red ink in fine bold gothic textura script on animal vellum.

Large illuminated “KL” initials (abbreviations for KALENDS) & four one-line illuminated initials alternate in burnished gold surrounded by intricate blue penwork & deep blue surrounded by elaborate red penwork. Saints’ names & Feasts are in red (origin of “red letter day”) or black ink.  

Origin:  Paris, France  circa 1425-1450    

Size:  6.1 x 4.5 inches,  (155 x 114mm) 

Among the saints listed are: (1 Aug) Peter,  (2 Aug) St. Stephen (pope), (5 Aug) St Memmius (Bishop of Chalons-sur-Marne), (10 Aug) St Lawrence, (18 Aug) St Agapitus and (24 Aug) St. Bartholomew (apostle).

To the left of the list of saints’ days are repeating series of letters A - G called Dominical Letters since they help find Sundays (after many calculations). At the far left is a column of Roman numerals i - xix called Golden Numbers to indicate appearances of new moons, & counting ahead 14 days, full moons throughout the year (year + 1; divide by 19; remainder is Golden Number - if zero GN = 19). Finally: each month had 3 fixed points: Kalends (1^st day) Ides (middle) & Nones (9^th day before Ides). All days in between were counted backwards from these points.