(See Meinken's full condition report for more information)

Summary of Condition Report Findings

This is a summary of the of Portland State University’s newly acquired Book of Hours, printed by Thielman Kerver. It is one of only two surviving Books of Hours printed by Kerver in 1507. This book’s measurements are as follows: front and back panels are 12.8 x 19.6 cm, a spine of 3.8 x 18.05 cm, and a girth of 31.4 cm. Its contemporary 16^th–century binding cover consists of embossed calf leather with a paper spine label wrapped over two wood panels and is in a stable condition. The original clasps were removed and a total of six small remnant holes (three holes on the front panel and three on the back panel), were filled in with inserts (possibly genuine leather). There is a small hole on the lower left-hand corner of the front panel bordering the spine’s lowest band. This hole penetrates through the cover to the inner lining of the front panel. Minor insect damage appears on the front and rear wooden panels and the head and tail of the book’s bindings are in excellent condition, though the type of insect is currently unknown and requires lab testing to verify. The leather spine cover is fragile and hairline cracking of the leather run from head to tail. The hinges are semi-fragile but still in good condition.

The folio’s dimensions are 10.8 x 18.0 cm and feature 19 large metalcut illustrations, Kerver’s unicorn colophon, two illustrated tables, and 36 small, illustrative metalcuts. The main text is in Latin, with a few texts in French, and one in Spanish. Overall, the front and back pastedown parchments and 19 quires (eight pages per quire) are all intact, though both pastedown parchment bare corrosive marks and holes where the clasps were previously in contact with the parchment. Evidence of restoration is visible on a few of the pages with decorated majuscules. c5, q3 and r6 “D’s” and “S” restored with an unknown paper, adhesive, and selection of red, blue, and gold pigments, in addition, in-penciling was found on c5.v. verso’s image of a dragon head with a floral background, on i8.viij.’s image of Moses’s robes , on o1and o1 verso’s images of tri-skull and crossbones motif, and on q3verso’s bottommost right-hand band of a floral pattern. Note that most of these restorations are on areas where finger traffic and finger oils are expected to occur from regular use. There is a single noticeable finger print on folio a4, a major crease on d8, and a minor tear on c8.viii. Handwritten additions from after the book of hours was published include the following. “ Ao 5…Bo?lta 843…? No copy ~ B?”, penciled in on the front protector parchment. An unoriginal left bracket notation was found mid-page on b3.iij.. “U.M. IUTOV,” was penciled in on c5 and "(CHR12)/16HP” was penciled in on the top left-hand corner of the rear page-protector parchment. Also, “H-09” was penciled in on the right-hand bottom corner of the rear pastedown parchment.

In conclusion, this rare Thielmann Kerver Book of Hours is in a good and usable condition. Continued access and responsible use of this book should be encouraged to ensure its flexibility and longevity and help to serve and engage the local community with the wonders of rare books and special collections.

• Written and researched by Nalani Meinken, 2018 Medieval Portland Capstone student