132 - Prayer Books

Prayer Books A Spiritual and Comforting Prayer Book Containing Devotional Morning and Evening Prayers, as well as Prayers for Confession and Communion. As well as prayers for various times of the day, along with several special devotions and prayers to the beloved saints of God, both for the living and the deceased (...) With a title page bordered with figurative and floral motifs, 1 full-page drawing of St. Anthony of Padua, and 22 mostly large head and tail vignettes, all in black ink and with gray wash. Neuburg on the Danube, 1725. 1 leaf (title page), 355 (recte 357) numbered pages, 5, of which 3 are inscribed, pages, 3 leaves (including title page) 23 x 17 cm. Contemporary morocco binding on a flat spine over wooden boards with rich gilding on the covers and spine; the covers are double-framed with interlaced chainwork and corner fleurons bordered by double dotted lines; the spine is divided into seven compartments by interlaced chainwork, these filled with vignette fleurons; the endpapers lined with solid-colored brocade paper, featuring positively signed floral and foliage motifs in gold-colored relief; 2 intact clasps embossed with floral decoration, as well as gold edging on the reverse (Front hinge at the bands has small, scattered missing dots; front cover has a darkened spot; brocade paper is oxidized in places along the edges; gold edging on the clasps is worn and slightly scraped). A prayer book with remarkably Baroque illustrations and calligraphy. - Throughout, artfully illustrated with ink drawn with a quill and additional wash in shades of gray. The vignettes, often half-page in size, are mostly composed of bouquets or arrangements of fruit, occasionally arranged around a figurative depiction, and always framed by insects such as butterflies, beetles, and grasshoppers. Particularly striking is the full-page drawing of Saint Anthony of Padua kneeling in adoration of the Infant Jesus on clouds. - The text is uniformly rendered in elaborate calligraphy, with the running text in a color palette ranging from light to dark brown and black. The chapter headings, page numbers, and the titles of individual prayers are highlighted in red; each page is bordered by a red line. - The margins of the first and last leaves show slight browning and minimal foxing in places; some chapter headings are slightly smudged; otherwise, this is a magnificent, unusually large-scale calligraphic prayer book with captivating illustrations. A remarkable prayer book with a truly Baroque design, lavishly illustrated with a title page featuring figurative and floral borders, one full-page drawing of St. Anthony of Padua, and 22—mostly large—head and tailpieces, all in black ink with additional gray wash. - The vignettes, often half a page in size, are mostly composed of bouquets or arrangements of fruit, sometimes arranged around a figurative representation, and always framed by insects such as butterflies, beetles, and grasshoppers. A standout is the full-page drawing of the kneeling Saint Anthony of Padua adoring the Christ Child on clouds. - The text is uniformly rendered in elaborate calligraphy, with the body text in a color palette ranging from light to dark brown to black. The chapter headings, page numbers, and the headings of individual prayers are highlighted in red, and each page is bordered by a red line frame. - The margins of the first and last leaves show some slight browning and minimal foxing, and a few chapter headings are slightly blurred; otherwise, this is a magnificent, unusually large calligraphic prayer book with captivating illustrations. This lot is subject to standard tax. 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.