1878 Paroissien Romain | Gauffered Edge w/a Double Clasp

Paroissien Romain. Printed by Alfred Mame, Tours, France. Published 1878. French and Latin Language. 

Bound in brown leather with intricate tooling across the covers and spine with stars, fleurons, and stylized leaf patterns. A unique double gold-tone metal clasp closure; all page edges brightly gold-gilt with a geometric gauffered design; and several engravings throughout. 

The page edges feature an embossed design called a gauffered edge. After the book block was tightly clamped and the page edges were gilded, a master binder used heated brass finishing tools to hand-stamp the delicate geometric design into the gold. It was a premium feature reserved for luxury devotional or presentation books in the mid-19th century. 

80 mm W x 125 mm H. 636 pages.

Condition: Marks to covers and spine; wear to the top and bottom of the spine and edges of covers; rubbing at corners; foxing throughout. Good condition.