WORKS from what is described as being “amongst the most important collections of illuminated manuscripts and early printed books to have appeared at auction” are to go on sale on 23 April at Christie’s, in New York. They come from the private collection of Elaine and Alexandre P. Rosenberg.
Mr Rosenberg, a prominent art dealer and collector, died in 1987; his wife, Elaine, died last year. The family are honouring the couple’s wishes that the books be sold to raise funds for the rare-books departments of designated museums. In all, Christie’s expects the works to raise £8 million. There are more than 200 volumes printed in the 15th century, and more than a dozen Books of Hours, mostly printed on vellum, from the early 16th century.
Among the illuminated MSS. are the Book of Hours, c.1440s, by the Master of the Paris Bartholomeus Anglicus (guide price £1.1 to £1.8 million), and The Hours of Anne de Neufville, c.1430, by the Bedford Master (£730,000 to £1.1 million).