47 - Nerses Schnorhali

Nerses Schnorhali Prayers published in twenty-four languages. With an engraved portrait of the author as a frontispiece, an engraved title page, and text set in numerous different typefaces. Venice, printed and published by the Mechitarist Congregation, 1823. 4 leaves (frontispiece, title page, preface), 422, 1 leaf (index). Small 8°. Smooth, speckled contemporary calf with gold-stamped title on the spine, ornamental. gilding on the covers and spine, endpapers of stone-marble paper, gold edging on the reverse, and ribbon bookmarks (corners and edges slightly bumped, minimally scuffed). A luxuriously bound edition of this historical printing curiosity. - An anthology of prayers by the Armenian Patriarch Nerses IV Schnorhali (“the Gifted,” 1102–1173) in 24 languages and numerous different typefaces, including Arabic, Armenian, Chaldean, Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, Cyrillic, and Persian. The printing press of the Armenian Mechitarist Order on the island of San Lazzaro in the Venetian Lagoon, established in 1717 and still in operation today, was renowned for its repertoire of non-Latin typefaces. - Provenance: Al. Delignières de Bommy, a member of the famous family of French bibliophiles from Abbeville in Picardy, with his lithographed ex libris on the front endpaper. - Title page and last few leaves show slight foxing in places; the first loose endpaper bears an owner’s note; otherwise, a well-preserved, collectible little volume. Superbly bound edition of this curiosity, featuring text in 24 languages and numerous non-Latin typefaces, additionally illustrated with an engraved portrait of the author as a frontispiece and an engraved calligraphic title leaf. - An anthology of prayers by the Armenian Patriarch Nerses IV Schnorhali (“the Gifted,” 1102–1173), printed in 24 languages and numerous different typefaces, including Arabic, Armenian, Chaldean, Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, Cyrillic, and Persian. The printing house of the Armenian Mechitarist monks on the island of San Lazzaro in the Venetian Lagoon, established in 1717 and still in operation today, was renowned for its extensive collection of non-Latin typefaces. - Provenance: Al. Delignières de Bommy, a member of the famous family of French bibliophiles from Abbeville in Picardy, with his lithographic ex libris on the front cover. - Title page and last pages slightly foxed; first front flyleaf bears the owner’s note; overall, a well-preserved, collectible little volume. This lot is subject to standard taxation. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union. This work is subject to the standard tax regime. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints, and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.