AA.VV - Vangelo - 1978

THE GOSPEL AS A WORK OF ART - BETWEEN MEDIEVAL AND MODERN LUXURY EDITORIAL
This elegant edition of the Gospel published by Paoline Editions presents itself as a refined homage to the medieval manuscript tradition, reinterpreted through a modern typographic design with a strong visual impact. The pages are enriched with color plates drawn from illuminated codices, with historiated initials, ornamental borders and sacred scenes that evoke the figurative language of the great European scriptoria. The volume thus sits halfway between liturgical book, work of art, and high-quality publishing product, conceived for an educated audience sensitive to the aesthetic dimension of sacred text.
MARKET VALUE
Fine illustrated editions of the Gospel from the second half of the twentieth century generally sit between 300 and 450 euros, with higher values for copies in excellent condition and high-quality decorative bindings.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION - COLLECTOR'S COPY
Editorial binding in simulated leather decorated with blind impressions and gold borders, decorated spine with friezes and the title “Gospel.” Gilded edges. Presence of the original editorial case. Illustrated with numerous full-page color plates and historiated initials, inspired by medieval illumination. Thick, slightly ivory paper. Some physiological foxing on the pages. Red cloth bookmark. In books, even relatively recent, small imperfections not always noted in the description may be present. Pp. (6); 24; 266; 2nn; (4).

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Gospel.
Paoline Editions, 1978.
ED. EDITORIAL COLLECTIVE.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
This edition is part of the religious publishing production of the second half of the twentieth century that aims to combine accessibility of the biblical text with a strong aesthetic component. The use of color-reproduced medieval miniatures recalls the great European illuminated manuscripts, giving the reader a visual experience that amplifies the symbolic and spiritual value of the text. The volume also reflects the importance attributed by the Catholic Church, after the Second Vatican Council, to the dissemination of the sacred text in the modern language, accompanied by apparatuses that facilitate reading and meditation.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Not applicable: this is the text of the Gospels in the official version of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), translated and adapted by biblical commissions in the context of the liturgical reform of the twentieth century.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
Paoline Editions, among the leading Italian Catholic publishers of the twentieth century, produced numerous editions of the Gospel text, often in high-quality formats and layouts. This illustrated version stands out for its quality iconography and decorative binding, intended for both devotional and collecting audiences.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
ICCU/OPAC SBN: editions of the “Gospel” CEI, Paoline Editions
Paoline editorial catalogs (1970s)
Studies on European medieval illumination
History of religious publishing in twentieth-century Italy