The Bread of Angels - Gabriel & Co. - Einsiedeln, Switzerland 1914

The Bread of Angels, an antique Catholic pocket prayer book from circa 1914, published by Gabriel & Co. in Einsiedeln, Switzerland.

This small prayer book is bound in what is presumably a black leather cover with gold-colored decorations. The front cover features an elegant cross and geometric corner ornaments. The title appears on the spine in gold-colored lettering. The pages have all-gilt edges, which have retained their warm gold color exceptionally well.

The interior is carefully designed with black text and decorative red borders. At the front, there is an image of Jesus with the Sacred Heart. The light-colored floral-patterned endpapers also contribute to the book's aesthetic.

The prayer book contains an extensive collection of Catholic prayers and devotions, including morning and evening prayers, confession and communion prayers, litanies, the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, and vesper psalms.

Notable is the mention of a papal recognition from 1911, in which Pope Pius X granted Gabriel & Co. the title Publishers to the Holy Apostolic See. Additionally, the book includes a calendar of church holidays starting from 1914, which makes a dating around that year plausible.

The book is in good antiquarian condition. The text block is solid, and the pages have been well preserved. The binding shows age-related wear, mainly at the corners and the ends of the spine. The spine is slightly slanted. The gold decorations and the all-gilt edges are largely well preserved.

Details

• Title: Het Brood der Engelen (The Bread of Angels)
• Subtitle: Catholic prayer book for all walks of life
• Publisher: Gabriel & Co.
• Place of publication: Einsiedeln, Switzerland
• Date: circa 1914
• Language: Dutch, with some Latin texts
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Type: prayer book / devotional book
• Extent: 191 numbered pages
• Dimensions: approx. 10 × 6.5 × 2 cm
• Binding: presumably black leather
• Decoration: gold-colored cross and line ornaments
• Spine: title in gold-colored letters
• Edges: all-gilt
• Endpapers: decorated paper with floral pattern
• Printing: black and red
• Status: good antiquarian condition
• Condition: solid and well-preserved book with age-related discoloration. The binding shows signs of use and wear on the edges, corners, and spine. The spine is slightly slanted. The gold decoration and gilt edges are well preserved.