(1846) Unique Clasped & Gauffered page-edges "Book of Hours" with 184 Chromolithographs
We are offering here an exquisite French Christian Catholic "Book of Hours, based on manuscripts from the Royal Library, Paris" from 1846, with unique leather binding. This richly illustrated and illuminated Christian work is consisted of 184 illustrated pages (including 16 full-page engraved plates) individually mounted on guards and chromolithographed in Color & Gilt. Writen in French and Latin, this scarce work contains Morning Prayer, Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, Evening Prayer, Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Prayers for Communion, Holy Mass, Vespers, My soul magnifies the Lord, Inviolate, Hail, true [Body], Sing, my tongue, Wedding Mass, Goddess of the Dead, Day of Wrath, From the Depths, Mother Stood, Oh Sons and Daughters.
Bound in an unique brown leather binding with a two stylised brass clasps, each board with a four brass flowers and four brass rivets and two brass corners to each board. Binding signed in gilt by famous French publishing and binding house "Gruel" to the bottom of the spine. With stylised monogram initials "JL" ("J" from "Julie" from a dedication page) embossed in gilt to the front board. Latin text embossed in gilt inside the two oposite debossed crossing circles to the both boards. All page edges gauffered in gilt by many stylised crosses framed by ornamental circles and fleurons. Very rich decorated front and rear paste-down with gilt frames and yellow Moirée silk. Free endpapers also accompanied by yellow Moirée silk.
Superb illuminations in chromolithographies inspired by illuminated manuscripts - Letters, decorations and miniatures taken from manuscripts from the Royal Library, Paris; The text is framed with many different decorations: foliage, flowers, birds, dragons, figures, etc.
PROVENANCE: This is a personalised copy made on demand, with the personalised prelim page consisted of hand-written and hand-colored addoration of the name "Julie" and flower-motif chromolithograph illustration on the right side. Accompanied by stylised monogram initials "JL" ("J" from "Julie" from a dedication page) embossed in gilt to the front board.
"Livre d'Heures d'après les manuscrits de la Bibliothèque Royale Paris."; Paris, Engelmann et Graf, 1846; First edition; 15,6 x 12 cm (6.1" x 4.7"); Embossed brown leather binding with two stylised brass clasps, four brass flowers and four brass rivets to each board and two brass corners to each board. Spine with six double gilt frames between five raised bands. Monogram initials "JL" embossed in gilt to the front board. Latin text embossed in gilt inside the two oposite crossing circles to the both boards. All page edges gauffered in gilt; Text in French and Latin; Collation complete - Free endpaper, (1) blank leaf, (1) personalised page with a hand-written and hand-colored addoration of the name "Julie" and flower-motif chromolithograph illustration on the right side, (1) blank page, Chromolithograph engraved title page, 184 pages (CLXXXIV) of text in chromolithography with 16 full-page chromolithography engraved plates included, (5) blank leaves, free endpaper; Binding is tight and firm, overall in immaculate condition, remains stable and secure, slightly dusty and with minor discoloration, a few negligible surface scratches and minor bumping, slightly worn to the extremities. Joints are whole, strong and secure except a short incipient cracking to the lower rear joint (3 cm), the hinges remains a whole, strong and stable. Both clasps are whole, well preserved and fully functional, only with little patina, no unconnected or missing parts. Interior is in impeccable condition, clean and bright, only a few almost invisible light foxing dots to the white margins, otherwise no inscriptions, annotations or markings, a clean copy. Overall a immaculate copy of this scarce title.