Anonymous Uncompleted Vellum Manscript Leaves with Watercolor Illumination Highlighted in Gold

N.p. Not published, N.d.. 12 folded signatures (7 ½ x 5 ½ inches) laid into an artist’s sketchbook (three-quarter cloth over marbled sides, measuring 9 x 7 inches), with some preliminary pencil drawings and ink lettering trials; also laid in are illuminated paper leaves (with text) and a small (4 ½ x 3 1’4 inches) vellum folded signature (without text), with illuminated floral borders, highlighted in gilt.The 12 folded vellum signatures (48 pages) contain 32 full page, fully realized illuminations. On one of the signatures, which contain four illuminations in a variety of styles, from early Gothic to 19th century romantic, the text is completed in (truncated) the rectangular place provided for it. Of the remaining 11 signatures (all without text), two contain four illuminated pages, three contain three illuminated pages, five contain two illuminated pages, and one signature contains one illuminated page. There are a TOTAL OF 32 FULL PAGE ILLUMINATIONS in a wide variety of styles, accomplished in watercolor and with gilt highlighting. The painting is an EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF FRENCH NINETEENTH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT ILLUMINATION by an anonymous artist. In its unbound format it gives the reader an opportunity to study and compare the state of the art without the usual limitations.  VERY FINE 19TH C. ILLUMINATED LEAVES ON VELLUM (Inventory #: 4,950N.d)