(1860) Boxed & Signed Christian ''Livre de Prieres" with 160 Chromolithographs
We are offering here a scarce French Christian Catholic "Prayer Book, Illustrated with Ornaments from Medieval Manuscripts" from 1860, bound in an unique Morocco leather binding with its original custom-made presentation wooden box.
This luxurious prayer book is illustrated with chromolithographs "drawing upon the ornamentation of medieval manuscripts, published by B. Charles Mathieu", a draftsman and lithographic printer specializing in chromolithography (1810-1869). With chromolithography by Lemercier & Co. and typography by D. Jouaust, this richly illustrated and illuminated Christian work is consisted of more than 160 illustrated pages (including 14 full-page engraved plates and 7 full-page engraved chapter titles) individually mounted on guards and chromolithographed in Color & Gilt. Chromolithograpy frontispiece contains personalised written dedication "18 Fevrier 1897. Eglise St. Maurice, Lille" (inserted by the publisher on demand by an unknown ex-owner).
Writen in French and Latin, this scarce work contains: Morning Prayers (with Byzantine Ornaments from the 9th to the 12th Century); Evening Prayers (with Carolingian Ornaments from the 8th to the 9th Century); Prayers before Mass (with Saxon Ornaments from the 8th to the 9th Century); Prayers during Mass (with German Ornaments from the 9th to the 12th Century); Prayers for Confession (with French Ornaments from the 10th to 12th Century); Prayers for Communion (with Gothic Ornaments from the 13th to the 14th Century); Wedding Mass (with Gothic Ornaments from the 15th); and Appendix (with Calligraphic Ornament from the 15th Century).
Bound in an unique personalised teal full Morocco leather binding with stylised Damascus Silver Monogram initials "CS" at the center of the front cover. Binding SIGNED in gilt twice by ''L. Curmer'' - at the foot of the spine and on the inner-turn dentelles at the bottom of the front paste down. Richly decorated front and rear paste-down with gilt fleurons and beige Moirée silk. Free endpapers also accompanied by beige Moirée silk. Sold together with an original custom-made presentation Wooden Box with brass lock mechanism and satin interior, addored by embossed stylised Monogram initials "CS" at the top of the hinged lid and SIGNED in gilt by ''L. Curmer'' at the center of the beige satin cushion from the inner side of the box cover.
''Livre de Prières, Illustré à l'aide des Ornements des Manuscrits du Moyen Age''; Paris, L. Curmer, no date [1860]; 16,8 x 12,8 (6.6'' x 5.1''); Full Morocco leather binding. Spine with five raised bands, without lettering. All page edges gilt. Binding signed in gilt by ''L. Curmer'' at the foot of the spine, and signed in gilt by ''L. Curmer'' on the inner-turn dentelles at the bottom of the front paste down. With an original custom-made wooden box with brass lock mechanism and satin interior, addored by embossed stylised Monogram initials "CS" at the top of the hinged lid and signed in gilt by ''L. Curmer'' at the center of the beige satin cushion from the inner side of the box cover; Text in French; Collation complete - Free endpaper, (2) blank leaves, False-title, Colophon, Title page, (4) pages of the "Table of Contents" ("Table des Matieres"), (1) page of Approval ("Approbation"), (1) Chromolithograph dedication page "Dedicated to His Eminence Cardinal Morlot, Archbishop Of Paris", Chromolithograpy frontispiece with personalised dedication "18 Fevrier 1897. Eglise St. Maurice, Lille" (inserted by the publisher on demand by an unknown ex-owner), Chromolithograpy title page, 149 chromolithograph pages including 14 full-page engraved plates and 7 full-page engraved chapter titles, (8) pages of "Family Memories" ("Souvenir") framed by stylised chromolithography frame (all clean and blank inside), (2) blank leaves, free endpaper; Full leather binding is strong, tight and firm, overall in pristine condition, with negligible rubbing and discoloration. Pages/Text block in immaculate condition, clean and bright, no any marks or foxing throughout, only with slight yellowing and a few pages with a few small and almost invisible yellow dots to the white margins. Overall the condition of the book is NEAR FINE. Wooden box with some wears outside, but remains whole, strong and secure, internally well preserved, only little dusty.