Master Printer Jules Claye Inscribes a Copy of a Book of Hours that He Printed on Vellum

Master printer Jules Claye is typically remembered for being Victor Hugo's printer, but from books that I have collected it is evident that he was one of the greatest printers in France during the mid-19th century. In 2020 I acquired a copy of the Paroissien Romain d'après les imprimés français du XVme siècle published by Gruel & Engelmann that Claye printed on very fine vellum with superfine presswork. The publishers did not formally advertise copies printed on vellum so one wonders if Claye  printed this 703 page small 8vo volume on vellum for his own use. The page size of this small thick prayer book is 150 x 110 mm. Because of the thickness of the superfine vellum leaves the book is 65 mm. thick. The unusual silver clasps holding the book closed are in the form of square knots.

In addition to his skill as a printer Claye was apparently a good calligrapher from the inscription to Mademoiselle Jeanne Ansart that he wrote on one of the vellum flyleaves.

Among the unusual features of this edition are the very numerous woodcut borders, reproduced from a French 15th century edition, and the slightly jarring juxtaposition of the 15th-16th century graphics with a 19th century Roman text type. Claye undoubtedly chose this type to make the edition very legible, which indeed it is.