1031 - A Clear Mirror of the True Maids of Christ. In which they may fully discern how they must adorn the inner beauty or appearance of their souls [...]. [Sint-Truiden?] 1535–1546 8vo, 17.1 x 11.9 cm: 273 paper leaves (13.5 x 7.0 cm), cursive script, 17 vellum leaves with mounted hand-colored engravings (a few wormholes in the lower margin of the first 30 leaves, slight chipping of paint on some illustrations, staining on some leaves). Overall in very good condition. Binding dated 1601: brown calf over wooden boards, spine with raised bands and 5 gilt fleur-de-lys, boards with a central gilt medallion depicting the Crucifixion, the instruments of the Passion, and the IHS monogram; on the upper board, “I.F. Bacx" and "Salich in Ger[...]cheyt"; on the lower board, "Anno" and "1601"; gilt edges; 2 brass clasps. Modern quarter-brown morocco fitted box (binding restored). A very neat manuscript produced for women’s devotional use in the Southern Netherlands, with headings and marginal captions in red pen, 8 large ornamented capitals, each leaf framed in red pen, lined and rubricated throughout. Apart from the table of contents and 2 prayers, the volume consists of 8 large chapters: “Sinte Hyeronimus epistole totter edeler maecht [...]”, “Van diversche ynnighe gebedekens [...]”, “On the Seven Outpourings of the Blood of Christ Jesus [...],” “On the Holy Sacraments [...],” “On the manifold blessings and graces that the Lord has bestowed upon you [...],” “On the contemplation of death and your own day of death [...],” "On God’s infinite mercy against all despair and timidity," and "On patience in all suffering during this time [...]". In the first prayer, the male scribe mentions that he composed this manuscript in 1535 at the request of a religious woman (“In the year xxxv years ago, I, N., an unworthy brother and servant of God, was earnestly requested by a devout religious woman [...] to write for her a form or manner [...]". At the end of the volume, he asks for prayers for his soul and concludes with the date July 1546 and the inscription “Godt sy gheloeft Jhs Maria Catharijna.” Illustrated with 17 engravings by Northern European printmakers: Jacob Binck (d. 1569; 2 engravings), Master S or Alexander van Brugsal (d. c. 1554; 9 engravings of Passion scenes), Israhel van Meckenem (d. 1503; 1 engr.), Monogrammist AC or Allaert Claesz (d. 1526; 3 engr.), one anonymous German master (Cologne?; 1 engr.), and one anonymous Netherlandish master (1 engr.). All prints were pasted onto sheets of paper and then mounted on vellum leaves; they were colored in the manner of miniatures and highlighted with gold, and placed in frames—some of which imitate the borders found in Books of Hours—featuring scenes from the Life and Passion of Christ, as well as Saints Stephen, Lawrence, Francis, Apollonia, and Catherine. Similar rare and remarkable examples of contemporary devotional and religious manuscripts interleaved with hand-colored engravings by early Northern European printmakers were once part of the library of the Abbey of Sint-Truiden, now housed in the University Library in Liège (see *Handschriften uit de abdij van Sint-Truiden*, exhibition catalog, 1986, nos. 30–34). Provenance: Sister Franssoes Backx (supra-libros and manuscript inscription inside the upper board). - Sister Gritken vander Elken “mijn goede vrindinne” (handwritten note ibid.). - Munich, Karl Hartung, sale 56, Nov. 3–6, 1987, lot 11. - J.R. Ritman (ex-libris “Philosophia Hermetica” inside the upper board). - London, Sotheby’s, June 17, 2003, Ritman’s sale, lot 37, with extensive description.