Ave Maria Prayer Book - Brepols Turnhout 1941

Small Dutch Roman Catholic prayer book from 1941, published by N.V. Etablissementen Brepols in Turnhout and revised by priest P. de Wolf.

This well-crafted edition of Ave Maria! features a flexible black leather binding with a striking embossed relief pattern and the title in gold on the spine. The page edges are finished in red with gilding, a characteristic luxury detail that contrasts beautifully with the dark binding.

Great attention has also been paid to the interior. The book has decorative gold and olive green endpapers with a fine white ornamental pattern and is printed throughout with red page borders. At the front, there is a religious illustration of Mary.

The 380-page prayer book contains an extensive collection of Catholic prayers and devotions, including vesper psalms, Marian antiphons, the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, and prayers for various moments in daily life.

The imprimatur is dated November 30, 1941, and the table of movable feast days also begins in 1941. The book was printed in Belgium during the Second World War and was originally sold in the Netherlands by N.V. J.H. van Wees Jr. on Bakkerstraat in Utrecht, whose small bookstore label is still present.

Notably, the original black cardboard slipcase has also been preserved. The slipcase shows clear signs of age and use, but together with the beautifully preserved prayer book, it forms an attractive and complete historical set.

Specifications

• Title: Ave Maria!
• Type: Roman Catholic prayer book
• Revised by: P. de Wolf, priest
• Publisher: N.V. Etablissementen Brepols
• Location: Turnhout, Belgium
• Date: 1941
• Language: Dutch
• Extent: 380 pages
• Binding: probably black leather
• Decoration: embossed relief and gold spine title
• Page edges: red with gilding
• Endpapers: decoratively printed paper
• With religious illustrations and red page borders
• With original cardboard slipcase
• With old bookstore label from N.V. J.H. van Wees Jr., Utrecht
• Dimensions: approx. 12 × 7 cm
• Thickness: approx. 2 cm
• Condition of book: good to very good vintage condition with light signs of age and use
• Condition of slipcase: clearly used, with edge and corner wear and material loss