MISSEL VÉNITIEN.

Missae episcopales pro sacris ordinibus. Venice, Heirs of Lucantonio Giunta, June 1563. In-folio, brown calf, double cold fillet, wide border drawn by two black scrolls set with golden fillets, which is decorated at the corners and in the middle of each side with a golden motif formed by a fleuron haloed by an arc of a circle charged with a thousand-point decoration, central panel decorated with a large poly-lobed mandorla charged in the middle with a coat of arms, the whole standing out on a triangle of three small gilt dots, spine decorated, gilt edges (Binding of the period). Beautiful Venetian edition printed on two columns in gothic type in red and black with plainsong, illustrated with more than 90 woodcuts in the text, some repeating, and a remarkable full-page Crucifixion scene, also repeated. Only the last two quires, entitled Breve compendium diversorum casuum, are printed in roman and italic characters. A REGULAR COPY, PARTLY RUBBED IN YELLOW, IN A RICH BINDING WITH THE ARMS OF ANTOINE ALBON, ARCHBISHOP OF LYON FROM 1544 TO 1573. The binding can be compared to the one reproduced by Mirjam Foot in the Henry Davis Gift catalogue (vol. III, no. 331), which covers a Florentine edition of 1552 and which the specialist believes to have come from a workshop in northern Italy or even Switzerland. The shape of the large central cartouche is similar and the same small foliate irons with an azure background can be found. From the library of L. Froissart (ex-libris). Corners and headpieces formerly restored (again damaged). Boards a little soiled.