Officium Beatae Mariae Virginis

large 8vo (207 x 139mm.), printed in red and black throughout, woodcut of the Virgin on title-page, woodcut borders on every page, woodcut illustrations and initials (the final illustration signed by the artist Petrus van der Borcht and the engraver Antonius van Leest and dated 1572), strictly contemporary south German or Austrian (Salzburg?) chestnut morocco with gilt roll-tooled border, arms of Johann Jacob von Khuen-Belasy, bishop of Salzburg on upper cover with the lettering "Officium B. Mariae" and the date 1574, lower cover with central gilt arabesque panel, edges gilt, gauffered and painted, top compartment of spine detached, binding somewhat rubbed, lacking two pairs of ties

Johann Jacob von Khuen-Belasy (c. 1515-1586), archbishop of Salzburg from 1560; Konrad Kürner, printer of Salzburg (active 1592-1619, printer to the archbishop), inscription on title-page dated 1601; Georg Mayr von Grafenegg (died 1610), inscription on inside front cover dated 1601 with Latin motto; Jos. F. Schrötter, 1828, inscription on flyleaf, thence to his son; Günther Leisten, Cologne bookseller, bought from him in 1966, description tipped onto flyleaf

Voet 1770 (copies were also printed with copper engravings or a combination of engravings and woodcuts, though Voet states that only copies with woodcuts survive)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is one of the earliest printings of the reformed Horae, now entitled Officium BMV by the Council of Trent in 1572.

The numerals on the binding, the gauffering and the spine decoration match a volume in the Henry Davis Gift in the British Library (catalogue no. 343, also a Plantin imprint, from 1569) which was made for Anton, Graf Lodron, canon of Salzburg and Passau (born 1537); the Salzburg armorial would seem to confirm the localisation of the binding.