Title: Pontificale Romanum Clementis VIII Pont. Max. iussu restitutum atque editum, 1595
Author: Camillo Graffico; Giacomo Luna; Antonio Tempesta; Francisco Villamena; Esglesia Catolica
Publisher: Romae, Apud Iacobum Lunam. Impensis Leonardi Parasoli & Sociorum
Condition: Good
A beautifully bound first edition of the pontifical resulting from the Council of Trent, which establishes the details of the rituals that only the bishops are authorized to celebrate. This is the official and complete liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, containing offices for ceremonies and rituals such as as baptism, communion, confirmation, ordination, and more. There are numerous liturgical songs throughout in Latin, for the various ceremonies. This volume contains only the second and third parts of the work, and the general title page is lacking, which would only be present at the start of the first volume.
This work is illustrated with numerous copperplate engravings, illustrating in particular the blessing ceremonies of a church and bells.
The carefully executed binding (likely Italian), presents a large number of small figurative icons, from cherubs, sirens, dragons, urns, eagles, and lions, which highlight the main figure of the owner's coat of arms. The period binding is a beautiful garnet morocco, the boards richly adorned with a composition of golden fillet lines and additional designs.
On note of provenance, this pontifical bears several: firstly, there is the binding of the bishop’s arms for which this was originally bound for; then, there is an undated ex-libris inscription for the Congregation de la Mission in Beziers; then there is another ex-libris inscription dated 1833, for Philibert de Bruillard, bishop of Grenoble; and lastly an old stamp in the margin of the title bearing the initials "GS" framed against a cross.
One volume in large folio, 281-538, 539-705 pages
On note of condition, this volume is in good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the boards, and crease marks to the corners of the boards, as well as restorations to three of the corners. There is wear to the margins of the pages of the beginning. There is damp staining throughout, with some light soiling present.