Antique French Paroissien Romain Missal, 1882, with Cross Cover and Clasp

A Paroissien Romain, the French Catholic missal for Sundays and feast days, published in Tours by Alfred Mame et Fils in 1882. It contains the offices for every Sunday and the principal feasts of the year in Latin and French, and carries the approval of Mgr Charles-Théodore Colet, Archbishop of Tours. That is a great deal of paperwork for something this pocketable.

The cover is cream, with a raised cross set inside a double-ruled oval, a pierced metal clasp that still does its job, and gilt page edges. Inside is a chromolithographed title page of the Annunciation in red, blue, and sage, signed D. J. Hallez, followed by engraved plates throughout. It was made to be carried to Mass. It now does very well on a nightstand or stacked with other small books that have earned their keep.

The pages have scattered foxing and the cover has a few light marks, which is the patina of a book that went to church rather than sitting on a shelf.

Details

• Title: Paroissien Romain, Traduction Nouvelle
• Publisher: Alfred Mame et Fils, Tours
• Date: 1882, as printed (M DCCC LXXXII)
• Language: Latin and French
• Dimensions: 4.25" × 3"
• Binding: cream cover with raised cross, metal clasp, gilt edges
• Illustrations: chromolithographed title page; engraved plates
• Condition: scattered foxing and light wear consistent with age and use. Please review all photos.