One the most important collections of illuminated manuscripts and early printed books comes up at Christie’s in New York on April 23 during Classic Week. The collection of Elaine and Alexandre P. Rosenberg includes 17 outstanding Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts and over 200 Renaissance printed books. The highlight is a masterpiece of book painting, a Parisian Book of Hours, circa 1440, with 16 miniature paintings, the work of Master of the Paris Bartholomeus Anglicus. The collection is expected to achieve more than $8,000,000 and all proceeds will benefit designated museums for the support of their rare book departments. The illuminated manuscripts offered for sale represent the culmination of 15th– and 16th-century European manuscript painting.
use of Paris, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum, Anjou or Le Mans, c.1440s $1,500,000-2,500,000