Roman Missal with Vespers - F. van Baelen - 16th edition 1959 | Leather & gilt edges

Exceptionally well-preserved Roman Missal from 1959, in a luxurious leather binding with fully gilt edges and an extensive collection of personal devotional items, photographs and memorial pieces.

This sixteenth edition of the Roman Missal with the Vespers of Sundays and Principal Feasts contains the Dutch translation and adaptation by Father F. van Baelen. The missal was published by V. van Dieren in Antwerp, together with G. Mosmans Zoon in 's-Hertogenbosch and J.H. van Wees Jr. in Utrecht.

This is a pre-Vaticanum II missal from 1959, with the liturgical texts in Dutch and Latin. The substantial volume is printed on characteristic thin missal paper and bound in a fine ochre-brown leather binding with decorative tooling, gilt spine title and fully gilt edges.

This copy is particularly notable for the personal history preserved within it. Tucked between the pages are numerous original devotional items and documents, including prayer cards, memorial cards, family photographs and original black-and-white photographs related to Catholic missionary work in Africa. It also contains a fold-out document from the Medical Mission Action MEMISA.

One of the preserved memorial cards belonged to Johannes Ros uit 't Zand, who died in December 1964. Together with other personal items, this gives the missal a clear North Holland family provenance. All loose documents and photographs found remain with the book and are offered as a single lot.

The missal itself is in exceptionally well-preserved condition. The binding is sturdy, the leather is very neatly preserved and the gilt edges still retain a strong shine. The interior is also clean and sturdy. The preserved personal items also give the book the character of a Catholic historical document from the 1950s and 1960s.

Details:

• Title: Roman Missal with the Vespers of Sundays and Principal Feasts
• Adaptation and Dutch translation: F. van Baelen, pr.
• Edition: new revised edition, sixteenth edition
• Year: 1959
• Publisher: V. van Dieren, Antwerp
• Co-publishers: G. Mosmans Zoon, 's-Hertogenbosch and J.H. van Wees Jr., Utrecht
• Language: Dutch and Latin
• Contents: Roman Missal and Vespers
• Liturgical period: pre-Vaticanum II
• Binding: leather binding with decorative tooling
• Spine: gilt title and decorative bands
• Edges: fully gilt
• Endpapers: marbled
• Ribbons: present
• Dimensions: approx. 16 × 11 cm
• Thickness: approx. 5 cm
• Provenance: Ros family, 't Zand, North Holland
• Includes original loose devotional items and personal documents
• Includes original photographs related to Catholic missionary work in Africa
• Includes material from the Medical Mission Action MEMISA

Condition:
Very good to near excellent vintage condition. The leather binding is sturdy and exceptionally well-preserved, with only minor signs of wear consistent with its age. The gilt edges are very fine and have retained their shine well. The interior is clean, sturdy and well-preserved. The personal photographs, prayer cards, memorial cards and other loose items individually show slight signs of age and wear. These have been deliberately preserved with the missal as part of the copy's provenance and history. See the photographs for a complete picture of the condition and the accompanying documents.