Masereel’s wordless novel, “Mon Livre d’Heures” translated into German ” Mein Stundenbuch“, and into English, “My Book of Hours” refers to a Christian devotional book popular in the Middle Ages. It was intended to help the lay person incorporate elements of monasticism into their devotional life reciting prayers during the eight canonical hours of the day ie the reason for “hours” in the phrase.
Masereel’s book on the other hand, depicts events from one day to the next day, not hours. I am not clear as to why the title was chosen.
Later Editions
1920 Mein Stundenbuch; Wolff Limited edition
1926-27-28 Stundenbuch Wolff Trade edition
1919 Mon livre d’heures (My Book of Hours)
As per the Limitation page – 212 copies were issued as follows:
- 1 example on Imperial Japan, signed by the author designated number 1. This example in a special cardboard box, with 167 original designs.
- 8 examples on Japan, signed by the author; numbered 2 to 9
- (3 copies printed on Japan excluding trade marked A, B, C.)
- 200 copies on vellum blanc paper, numbered 10 to 209.
Relating to numbers 10 to 209
- Title: Mon livre d’heures
- Author and Illustrator: Frans Masereel
- Introduction: No, but quotes from Whitman and Rolland
- Date of publication: printing completed April 30, 1919
- Publisher: Self?
- Place of publication: Geneva
- Printer: Albert Kundig
- Copyright: the author
- Dimensions: 15.4 x 12 x 3 cm (6 1/16 x 4 5/8 x 1 1/4 inches)
- Dust jacket: Yes; the cover is very thin card with the DJ on stiff paper glued to the spine and folded over the cover
- slipcase: No
- Binding: soft cover
- Language: French titles, etc
- Paginated: unpaginated
- Printed: images recto
- Printed from the original wood blocks
Numbers 10 to 209
….. pleasures and sorrows, mischief, pranks,
experiences and follies, straw and hay, figs and
grapes, green fruits, sweet fruits, roses and buds,
things seen, and read, and known, and had,
experienced!
Romain Rolland
(Colas Brugnon).
on April 30, 1919
on the presses of Albert Kundig,
master printer
in Geneva.