The Christian Treasure - Antique Prayer Book - Maeseyck c. 1893
The Christian Treasure - Antique Prayer Book - Maeseyck c. 1893
De Christelijke Schat (The Christian Treasure) is a compact Roman Catholic prayer book from the late 19th century, published by P. Van Venckenray-Roex in Maeseyck, present-day Maaseik in Belgium. The calendar of movable church feasts begins in 1893, which allows this edition to be dated to around that year.
The book contains more than 500 pages of prayers and pious exercises for various moments in Catholic life. In addition to morning and evening prayers, it includes, among other things, Mass prayers, confession and communion prayers, penitential psalms, litanies, prayers for the sick and dying, and prayers for various life circumstances. At the front is a full-page illustration of the crucifixion.
The original design is particularly attractive. The black binding bears the title De Christelijke Schat in gold on the spine, while the book block is finished with red-stained edges. The inside features richly colored marbled endpapers in red, blue, ochre, and black.
On the remembrance page, some old personal details regarding baptism, First Holy Communion, and confirmation have been entered in pencil. These traces of use have been preserved and form a tangible reminder of the book's original religious function.
Details:
- Title: De Christelijke Schat
- Subtitle: Nieuwe verzameling van uitgekozen gebeden (New collection of selected prayers)
- Publisher: P. Van Venckenray-Roex
- Place of publication: Maeseyck, Belgium
- Date: c. 1893
- Type: Roman Catholic prayer book / church book
- Language: Dutch
- Extent: over 500 pages
- Illustration: crucifixion scene as frontispiece
- Binding: black bound cover with gold-stamped spine title
- Endpapers: colored marbled paper
- Book block: red-stained edges
- Dimensions: c. 12 × 8.5 cm
- Thickness: c. 3.2 cm
- With old personal pencil inscriptions
- Condition: good antique used condition with wear to binding and corners, paper discoloration, scattered age spots, and minor signs of use. The binding is still in good condition.