Missale Romanum

1661

de Beer Gc 1661 C

[Munich]: Ioannis Iaecklini

Internally this Missal is impressive, with its detailed engraved initials, the printed music, and its printing in red and black. Externally it is equally impressive. The decorative brass bosses and clasps are intact, as too the green silk page-markers. Usually ten bosses were fastened: one on each corner, and one in the middle of each cover. Bosses not only provided ornamentation, but also prevented the cover (in this instance goatskin) from being scratched. This Missal has also been gauffered (Fr. Tranches ciselées), a repeat pattern delicately tooled on the edge of a book and here just visible among the faded gilding.