(1886) Boxed Christian "Roman Missal" with Noble Provenance

We are offering here an unique copy of scarce French Catholic "Roman Missal" published in 1886 by L. Curmer, with 510 richly illuminated pages and 4 engraved plates, containing the Office for all Sundays and the principal feasts of the year in Latin and French. The ornamentation of this Missal is drawn entirely from a copy of the "Hours of Simon Vostre", preserved in Mâcon at the Printers' Library - It was towards the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th that the great Parisian bookseller commissioned these charming small volumes. Only a few have survived to the present day; in them, the delicacy of execution and the aesthetic proportions of the compositions - hallmarks of the era's great artistic movement - blend seamlessly with the naivety and whimsy of the Gothic style. The credit for this rich ornamentation, reproduced here with scrupulous accuracy, belongs entirely to the artists, draftsmen, and engravers - who, in those times of fervent and fruitful faith, drew their inspiration and talent from a deep religious sentiment. They were the humble collaborators of figures such as Pigouchet, Kerver, Ardouyn, and Jehan Petit, whose marvelous creations played such a powerful role in illustrating the dawn of the French Renaissance.

This is a Personalised copy with NOBLE PROVENANCE bound in a dark teal Morocco leather binding - With dedication "J. BARRET DE NAZARIS NEE DUMOLIN" chased in gilt to the front paste down in the center of teal Moirée silk (The Barret de Nazaris family is a French noble and historical lineage originally from Lot-et-Garonne, Agen, with branches that spread to the Guadeloupe and Venezuela). This unique copy also has a SIGNATURE with the Coat of Arm by "Protat Freres" at the rear free endpaper (L'Imprimerie Protat Frères, often known as Imprimerie Protat, was a renowned printing house and bookbinder based in Mâcon, Saône-et-Loire, France, operating from 1833-1981; Vintage books printed or bound by Protat Frères occasionally surface through rare book dealers and auctions). Numbered copy (N°20). Binding with very rich decorated front and rear paste-down with gilt frames & fleurons and teal Moirée silk. Free endpapers also accompanied by teal Moirée silk. Pages/text block from high quality woven paper. Sold together with an original presentation Wooden Box with brass clasp and red satin interior; Clasp with embossed initials ''L.Z." and "Paris'' to the upper moving part of the brass clasp. The box has a small white label at the bottom upper right corner with the name/inscription in ink (probably the name of an ex-owner, but we can't confirm the text - please see the photo).

"Missel Romain, Contenant l'Office de tous les Dimanches et des principales fetes de l'annee en Latin et en Francais."; Lyon, L. Curmer, 1886; Full dark teal Morocco leather binding. Spine with five raised bands, with embossed title. All page edges gilt. With an original custom-made wooden box with brass clasp and red satin interior, clasp with embossed initials ''L.Z." and "Paris'' to the upper moving part of the brass clasp; Size of the book: 14,5 x 11,2 cm (5.7" x 4.4"); Size of the wooden box: 16,7 x 13,3 x 5 cm (6.6" x 5.2" x 2"); Text in Latin and French; Collation complete - Free endpaper, (4) blank leaves, False title, Approval and Property page (Propriete), Colophon, Engraved title page, 510 illuminated pages including XX full-page engraved plates, (4) blank leaves, free endpaper; Full leather binding is tight and firm, overall well preserved, with minor rubbing, some surface scuffings and slight discoloration. Joints and hinges remains whole, strong and secure. Text block/pages are in immaculate condition, clean and very bright, no foxing or marks throughout, only a slight yellowing. Overall the condition of the book is NEAR FINE. Wooden box with minor wears, remains whole, strong and secure, internally well preserved, only a broken satin strip connecting the two parts of the box.