Altro - Lotto di 2 antichi libretti devozionali italiani – San Pasquale Baylon, Napoli 1736 e Sant’Antonio - 1736-1742

Lot of 2 ancient Italian devotional booklets – San Pasquale Baylon, Naples 1736 and Saint Anthony of Padua, 1742 – 18th century. The books are respectively 80 pages and 168 pages long.

Description

Interesting lot consisting of two small Italian devotional volumes from the 18th century, both dedicated to important saints of the Catholic tradition. The copies preserve evident characteristics typical of popular religious publishing of the eighteenth century and show signs of use and aging consistent with their antiquity.

1. San Pasquale Baylon – Naples, 1736

The first volume bears the title page:

“Ristretto della Vita, Virtù, e Miracoli del Glorioso S. Pasquale Baylon de’ Minori Scalzi di San Pietro d’Alcantara. Col modo di fare la Novena a suo Onore.”

At the end, the indication is clearly legible:

“In Napoli, MDCCXXXVI. Nella Stamperia di Felice Mosca. Con licenza de’ Superiori.”

The Roman date MDCCXXXVI corresponds to 1736.

The booklet contains the life of Saint Pasquale Baylon, with references to his virtues and to the tradition of miracles attributed to him, followed by devotional material and the novena in his honor. At the beginning of the text there is a full-page woodcut illustration, depicting the saint kneeling in a devotional posture before a Eucharistic/heavenly apparition.

The printing features eighteenth-century types, ornamental drop caps, and observable typographic signatures. The copy appears preserved in its original structure, with a plain cover of paper or parchment/cardboard that is soft. Visible are browning, foxing, stains, small folds, wear and irregular margins, as well as marks compatible with nearly three centuries of conservation and use.

2. Saint Anthony of Padua – 1742

The second volume bears the title:

“Officio breve del miracoloso S. Antonio di Padova, colla sua Novena, ed altre Divozioni”

and proceeds to indicate that the devotions were gathered by a Friar of the Order of the Minor Conventuals and dedicated to the devotees of the saint.

On the title page the editorial indication appears:

“In Milano, in Brescia, e in Padova, nella Stamperia del Seminario. 1742. Con Licenza de’ Superiori.”

This is therefore a dated edition of 1742.

The small volume includes the office and several devotional practices dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. From the photographs a pagination reaching at least 168 is visible, where the conclusion “IL FINE” appears. On the same page there are handwritten notes from the period or at least ancient, among which the name “Antonio Castellano” stands out (to be verified directly on the original), as well as other inscriptions and possession marks.

Particularly interesting is the binding, apparently dark leather, with the spine decorated by friezes and gold tooling and a brief gilt title. The boards present impressed decorations. The pages show browning, stains and halos, small marginal defects and other normal signs of use. A few more pronounced stains are visible on the initial sheets.

Condition

Overall the two volumes are presented in conditions compatible with eighteenth-century devotional books actually used. There is wear, browning and oxidation of the paper, stains, halos, folds and small defects at the margins; in the Saint Anthony volume there are also handwritten annotations and possession marks.

The photographs constitute an integral part of the description and should be examined carefully to assess the state of conservation, bindings, pages and any defects.

Overall, an interesting lot for antique-book collectors, eighteenth-century religious publishing, Franciscan devotion, prayer cards and religious iconography, as well as for collections dedicated to Saint Pasquale Baylon and Saint Anthony of Padua.

This description has been prepared with the aid of artificial intelligence systems based on the provided photographs.