1885 Paroissien Romain | Intricate Gauffered Edge

Paroissien Romain, printed by Alfred Mame, Tours, France. Published 1885. French and Latin Language. 

A brown leather binding featuring linework across the covers and spine; the front cover and back cover are adorned with crosses, a brass rim on the front board, all page edges are a bright gold-gilt and feature a bold repeating pattern of geometric linework and flowers.

After the book block was tightly clamped and the page edges were gilded, a master bookbinder used heated brass finishing tools to hand-stamp the delicate flourishes and linework into the gold in a bookbinding process called gauffering. It was a premium feature reserved for luxury devotional or presentation books in the mid-19th century. 

80 mm W x 126 mm H. 448 pages. 

Condition: Some faint marks across the spine and covers; light wear to the hinges and the edge of the spine; the metal clasp and the back brass rim are missing; some foxing throughout. Good condition.