(1885) Boxed & Signed Christian Missal with Crown of a Marquess of France - Noble Provenance

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 1885 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. This luxury prayer book with richly illuminated text block consists of 688 text pages within a different decorative border on every page including a 9 full-page engravings with chapter titles.

NOBLE PROVENANCE - Personalised copy bound in a maroon Morocco leather binding with the Crown of a Marquess of France and stylised Monogram Initials "M(arquis)HB" chased in gilt at the center of the front Moirée silk paste-down. 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. Binding SIGNED by stamped signature "KAUFFMANN-PETIT" to the top left corner of the front free endpaper by the famous French binder (Kaufmann-Petit was a renowned late-19th-century Art Nouveau bookbinding workshop based in Paris, active during the height of French artistic binding innovation - the bindery became celebrated for its masterful execution of luxury, bespoke covers featuring exceptional tooling and high-end materials; Today, the Kaufmann-Petit workshop is highly prized by collectors of fine antiquarian books - Their outputs routinely appear in premier auctions such as Sotheby's and specialty trade databases, valued for their pristine preservation, elegant Art Nouveau accents, and technical refinement). The book sold together with an original Customised Wooden Protective Box with Brass Clasp & Beige Satin Interior with stylised Monogram Initials "M(arquise)HB" embossed at top of the box lid. Wooden protective box SIGNED by "A. ROUX, Libraire, Rue Saint-Dominique, 2, Lyon" chased in gilt together with their coat of arm at the center of the beige satin lining inside the box lid (a bookseller A. Roux operating on a historical street in the heart of Lyon's Presqu'ile; Major multi-generational printing houses and booksellers, such as the famous Bruyset and Tournachon families, operated directly out of this street).

"Paroissien Romain d'après les imprimés français du XVme Siecle"; Paris, Gruel & Engelmann, 1885; Full maroon Morocco leather binding. Spine with five raised bands. Embossed title to the spine. All page edges gilt; 15,8 x 12,5 cm (6.2" x 4.9"); Text in French; Collation complete - Free endpaper, (1) blank leaf, Engraved title page, (1) page with the coat of arm of the book's printer J. Claye, 688 illuminated pages including 9 engraved chapter titles, (2) blank leaves, free endpaper; Morocco leather binding is strong, tight and firm, overall well preserved, with minor rubbing and negligible discoloration, a few surface scratches, boards little bowed. Joints and hinges are in immaculate condition, remain whole and strong. Text block/pages clean and bright, overall in pristine condition, no any marks or annotations, only with a slight yellowing, free endpapers and blank leaves with little more yellowing and slight offsetting traces. Wooden box in very good condition, strong and stabile, but worn with some traces of use to the exterior (visible tear at the edge of the box lid), satin interior little dusty and yellowed, satin joints with tears, but brass hinges whole and secure.