AUTHOR: COMMISSIONED BY THE SALZBURG PRINCE-ARCHBISHOP BERNHARD OF ROHR

LANGUAGE: LATIN

DATE: 1494

PAGE #: 1,360 OVERALL

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS:

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THE FIVE VOLUMES OF THE MONUMENTAL FEAST MISSAL OF THE SALZBURG BASILICA, NOW IN THE BAVARIAN STATE LIBRARY, IS AMONG THE MOST LAVISHLY ORNATE, AND PROBABLY THE MOST COSTLY, MEDIEVAL MISSALS IN THE WORLD. COMMISSIONED BY THE SALZBURG PRINCE-ARCHBISHOP BERNHARD OF ROHR (1418-87, REIGNED 1466-82), AN ART LOVER AND BIBLIOPHILE, THE MANUSCRIPT WAS COMPLETED BY 1494 UNDER THE RULE OF HIS SUCCESSORS. IT CONTAINS 22 LITURGICAL TEXTS FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS FEASTS TO BE CELEBRATED IN THE SALZBURG BASILICA. IN THE LATE 1450’S, THE SALZBURG PAINTER ULRICH SCHREIER BEGAN WORK ON THE MAGNIFICENT MINIATURES, BUT SOON AFTER HE HAS STARTED BERTHOLD FURTMEYR (CIRCA 1435/40-1501) WAS COMMISSIONED TO CONTINUE. FURTMEYR DECORATED THE VOLUMES WITH SPLENDID MINIATURES, AND THE MISSAL IS CONSIDERED HIS MATURE ARTISTIC MASTERPIECE. THE EXTENT OF THE WORK AND THE DIVISION OF ITS 680 LEAVES INTO FIVE VOLUMES TESTIFY TO THE EXTRAORDINARY DEMANDS OF THE COMMISSION. WRITTEN IN LARGE TEXTURA SCRIPT, EACH VOLUME IS 38 CM TALL AND 28 CM WIDE, CONVENIENT TO HANDLE AND AT THE SAME TIME IMPRESSIVE. EACH VOLUME CONTAINS LITURGICAL TEXTS AND BRIGHTLY COLORED ILLUMINATIONS.

THE FIRST VOLUME INCLUDES THE THREE HOLY MASSES: THE BIRTH OF CHRIST ON DECEMBER 25TH, THE FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST ON JANUARY 1ST, AND THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY ON JANUARY 6TH. THE SECOND VOLUME CONTAINS LITURGIES FOR THE PURIFICATION OF THE VIRGIN, THE ANNUNCIATION, THE DEPOSITION OF SAINT RUPERT, HOLY THURSDAY, EASTER, AND THE ASCENSION. THE THIRD VOLUME INCLUDES THE LITURGIES OF PENTECOST, TRINITY SUNDAY, CORPUS CHRISTI, THE SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, AND THE ASSUMPTION. THE FOURTH VOLUME CONTAINS THE LITURGIES OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, THE NATIVITY OF MARY, THE TRANSLATION OF SAINT RUPERT, THE KERMIS OF THE SALZBURG BASILICA, AND THE TRANSLATION OF SAINT VIRGIL. IN THE FIFTH VOLUME, THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS, SAINT MARTIN’S DAY, AND THE DEPOSITION OF SAINT VIRGIL ON NOVEMBER 27TH COMPLETE THE LITURGICAL YEAR.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: THIS FACSIMILE IS PRINTED ON 67LB COVER MATTE ACID FREE PAPER. WE USE A 6 COLOR DIGITAL OFFSET PRESS TO BRING OUT ALL THE INTRICATE DETAILS IN THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS. THE BOOKS ARE WRAPPED IN A BEAUTIFUL TOP GRAIN RED CALF LEATHER AND SILVER STAMPED ON THE COVER AND EACH SPINE WITH ROMAN NUMERALS TO MATCH EACH VOLUME. EACH PAGE OF THE 5 VOLUMES IS INDIVIDUALLY CUT FOR THE AUTHENTIC 15TH CENTURY FEEL. OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.