(1858) Unique Silver Clasped Christian "Roman Parishioner" with 704 engraved pages
We are offering here an exquisite copy of the "Roman Missal, based on French works from the 15th Century", a scerce liturgical book published in Paris in 1858 by the famous French publishing house "Gruel & Engelmann". The publishers created a luxury prayer book with every page framed by rich woodcut borders and vignettes directly modeled on medieval Books of Hours and early French incunabula from the 15th century. Collaborators on this magnificant work were: Art Direction - J. Engelmann; Text: A. Driou; Illustrator: A. Ledoux; Engraver: Touillot; Printer: J. Claye; Paper By Blanchet Frères & Kleber.
Uniquely bound in tobacco brown Morocco leather binding with Two Large Silver Clasps in shape of the "Tree of Life". Very rich decorated front and rear paste-down with gilt frames and green Moirée silk. Free endpapers also accompanied by green Moirée silk. Personalised copy with a fine Stylised Monogram initials "L.V." chased in gilt to the front Moirée silk endpapers.
Binding SIGNED by "AUGUSTE-PETIT" with small stamp at the top right corner of the front free endpaper (Auguste Petit, one of the most famous French bookbinders, was active during the Second Empire and the Third Republic; His work is frequently found on luxury devotional books, such as Missals and other prayer books, attesting to the quality of the craftsmanship of the period). Small label "J. Jacquinet, Marseille" pasted to the rear blank leaf (probably collaborator to the development of the binding).
This luxury prayer book with richly illuminated text block consists of 703 text pages within a different decorative border on every page including a 9 full-page engravings with chapter titles.
"Paroissien Romain d'après les imprimés français du XVme Siecle"; Paris, Gruel & Engelmann, 1858; First edition; 15,8 x 12,3 cm (6.2" x 4.8"); Full tobacco brown Morocco leather binding with two silver clasps in shape of the "Tree of Life". Very rich decorated front and rear paste-down with gilt frames and green Moirée silk. Free endpapers also accompanied by green Moirée silk. Stylised monogram initials "L.V." embossed in gilt to the front green Moirée silk endpapers. Spine with five raised bands. Embossed title to the spine. All page edges gilt; ext in French; Collation complete - Free endpaper, (2) blank leaves, (1), Chromolithograph frontispiece, Engraved title page, (1) page with the coat of arm of the book's printer J. Claye, 703 illuminated pages including 9 engraved chapter titles, (2) blank leaves, free endpaper; Binding is tight and firm, overall well preserved, with some discoloration and surface scratches, little bumped and scuffed to the extremities. Both silver clasps are well preserved and fully functional, only with little patina. Hinges and joints are whole and remains strong and secure. Pages/text block is in impeccable condition, clean and bright, without any yellowing, foxing or markings (seems like the volume never been used/opened before); only front and rear blank leaves with a slight yellowing. Overall a NEAR FINE unique copy of this scarce title.