(1889) Unique Missal with Silver Crown of a Marquess of France - Noble Provenance

We are offering here an unique copy of the French Christian "Missal of the Evangelists. Roman Parishioner" from 1889. All 504 text pages richly illuminated and framed by different motives by Dalpayrat & Depelley and with 4 beautiful engraved plates with Christian motives (three of them illustrated by a Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens and one by a French painter Jean-Baptiste Jouvenet).

NOBLE PROVENANCE - Personalised copy bound in a maroon Morocco leather binding with the Silver Crown of a Marquess of France at the top left corner of the front board and stylised Monogram Initials "M(arquis).G" chased in gilt at the center of the front Moirée silk endpaper. With a Dedication date "13 JUILLET 1890" chased in gilt at the bottom of the front Moirée silk endpaper. A small label "LIBRAIRIE MEURET M. C. DUPONT Suc. Rue del Eveches NANTES" pasted to the top left corner of the front free endpaper (the historic Meuret Dupont bookstore was located near the Nantes Cathedral, in the vicinity of Rue del'Evêches). Very rich decorated front and rear paste-down with bordeaux Moirée silk and gilt frames and fleurons. Free endpapers also accompanied by bordeaux Moirée silk. Numbered copy (N°2). Sold together with an original Wooden Protective Box with Brass Clasp & Gold Satin Interior with stylised Monogram Initials "M(arquise).G" embossed in gilt at top of the box lid.

"Missel des Evangelistes. Paroissien Romain"; Paris, Emile Rousselle, 1889; Size of the book: 15 x 11,5 cm (5.9" x 4.5"); Size of the wooden box: 19,5 x 16 x 5 cm (7.7" x 6.3" x 2"); Maroon Morocco leather binding with the Silver Crown of a Marquis of France at the top left corner of the front board. Spine with five raided bands, with embossed title to the spine. All page edges gilt. Wooden protective box with brass clasp and gold satin interior with stylised monogram initials "M.G" embossed in gilt at top of the box lid; Text in French; Collation complete - Free endpaper, (2) blank leaves, False title, (1) "Propriete des Editeurs" page, Frontispiece, Engraved title page, Colophon, (2) pages of Family Memories ("Souvenirs de Famille"), (1) Calendar page, (1) Content page, 504 pages including three b&w engraved plates, (2) blank leaves, free endpaper; Morocco leather binding is strong, tight and firm, overall well preserved, with some bumping and negligible discoloration, a few surface scratches, boards little bowed. Joints and hinges are in immaculate condition, remain whole and strong. Text block/pages very clean and bright, overall in very good condition, no any marks or annotations, but with a slight yellowing, a few pages with very light and small foxing dots to the white margins, free endpapers and blank leaves with more yellowing/age tanning. All tissue guards present, but wrinkly and with age tanning. Wooden box in very good condition, little worn and with some traces of use to the exterior, inside only little dusty, but whole, strong and stabile.