the astor-aubéry de frawenberg hours, a book of hours dating back to the 1500s is up for auction at the heritage rare books auction on april 7.
it is believed that the book was made for a nobleman of toul, in eastern france circa 1500 - 1520. it is bound in red velvet & was later encased in seventeenth-century decorated silver gilt covers with royal arms designed for the manuscript including intricate designs of birds, vases, sphinxes & more. inside the manuscript contains 19 large miniatures, 4 full page miniatures, and 28 small miniatures with gold details by the parisian workshops of jean pichore & jean poyet.
the book was possibly crafted for someone in the aubéry de frawenberg family and the beautiful binding was added to the manuscript later. sometime before 1884, american ambassador to rome and the wealthiest man in america at the time, viscount william waldorf astor bought it £420 - a huge amount at that time. it is estimated to sell for at least $325,000.