(1881) Signed & Silver Clasped Binding - Richly Illuminated Christian Missal
We are offering here an exquisite Christian Catholic "Roman Parishioner" from 1881, richly illustrated and illuminated and with an Approval and Blessing by Charles Theodore Colet, The Archbishop of Tours. Bound in brown Morocco leather binding with Two Damascus Silver Clasps. With stamped SIGNATURE "DUPLASSY TOULOUSE" to the top left corner of the first flyleaf ("Duplassy" was a historic fine binding workshop based in Toulouse, known among bibliophiles for its work dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries; Books bound by this craftsman typically bear the signature "Duplassy, Toulouse" - stamped in blind or in gold - on the flyleaves). Richly decorated front and rear paste-down with gilt fleurons and Moirée silk in gilt & black. Free endpapers also accompanied by Moirée silk in gilt & black.
With Frontispiece and 6 engraved plates by famous French painter and illustrator Luc-Olivier Merson and engraved by M. Meaulle. All 536 pages richly illuminated and illustrated by famous French illustrator M. Ciappori.
"Paroissien Romain"; Tours, Alfred Mame et Fils, 1881; First edition; Size of the book: 14,5 x 11,5 cm (5.7" x 4.5"); Brown Morocco leather binding with two Damascus silver clasps. Spine with five rised bands. All page edges gilt; Text in French; Collation complete - False title, [1], Frontispiece, Engraved title page, 536 pages, with 6 engraved plates; Full Morocco leather binding is tight and firm, overall in very good condition, little rubbed and scuffed mostly to the extremities and spine, corners crushed. Pages/Text block in very good condition, bright and very clean, only a few pages with very light foxing. Overall the condition of the book is VERY GOOD.