[BOOK OF HOURS]. DES BILLIERS, L'Abbé. Livre d'Heures ou Offices de l'Église illustrés d'après les Manuscrits de la Bibliothèque du Roi par Mademoiselle A. Guilbert et publiés sous la direction de M. l'abbé Des Billiers, Chanoine honoraire de Langres. Published in Paris by Bruel et Engelmann in 1882. Small square in-8, full ebony morocco, spine with cold-framed faux-nerfs, silver plate with the numeral "MD" (Marie Duchet) on the first cover, interior lace, moiré silk endpapers, all edges gilt. 6 ff.n.ch. and 92 pages, 3 off-text illuminated illustrations, several miniatures in the text, numerous illuminated frames and initials. The entire work is mounted on tabs. Minor rubbing and scuffing to boards. Very rare foxing. Magnificent book of hours illustrated by Mademoiselle A. Guilbert based on ancient manuscripts from the 9th to the 15th centuries, such as the hours of the Duc de Berry, the Petites Heures of Anne de Bretagne, the 14th-century British Library, Persian, Byzantium and Saxon manuscripts. It was first published in 1843 under the direction of M. l'Abbé Des Billiers, honorary canon of Langres. The Hours consist of 2 ff. (frontispiece and illuminated title) followed by 6 ff. of calendars presented in a variety of floral settings, some in color and gold, with miniatures symbolizing the different periods of the year. They are followed by 92 pp. including 90 pages of prayers presented in colorful floral frames, sometimes accompanied by shields or figures. The text is accompanied by small miniatures, large and small painted initials, as well as 3 large out-of-text illustrations, one of which is the frontispiece. The present copy, printed by Dumoulin on fine paper, was painted by Marie Duchet on the occasion of the marriage of her brother, Lieutenant Louis Duchet, to Madeleine Sauton. A fine copy, very well established in full morocco enhanced by a metallic numeral on the front cover.