Ave Maria - Antique Leather Prayer Book - Brepols Turnhout 1924

French-language Catholic prayer book Ave Maria! Choix de prières et de pieux exercices pour les différentes circonstances de la vie, published by Établissements Brepols in Turnhout.

This compact prayer book dates from the early interwar period, likely circa 1923-1924. The imprimatur was granted in Mechelen on July 13, 1921, and the included table for movable church feasts begins in 1923.

The book is bound in a supple brown leather binding with blind embossing, decorative ornaments, and the title Ave Maria on the spine. The pages have a gilt edge with a warm red-gold sheen. Inside are decoratively printed endpapers, religious illustrations, and carefully designed text pages with red border lines, ornaments, and ornamental initials.

The content includes prayers and Catholic devotions for various moments and circumstances of daily life, with a prominent place for the veneration of Mary.

A characterful antique prayer book that retains signs of over a century of use. Despite its age, the book block remains strong and stable.

Details

• Title: Ave Maria!
• Full title: Choix de prières et de pieux exercices pour les différentes circonstances de la vie
• Publisher: Établissements Brepols, S.A.
• Place: Turnhout, Belgium
• Language: French
• Dating: ca. 1923-1924
• Imprimatur: Mechelen, July 13, 1921
• Binding material: leather
• Gilt page edges with red-gold sheen
• Decorative endpapers
• Religious illustrations
• Dimensions: ca. 12 × 7 × 2 cm
• Condition: good antique condition with signs of use, wear to the leather binding, and normal signs of aging on the paper
• Book block is strong and stable