Very rare copy of probably the first edition of this collection of prayers to be said before and after Mass. Later editions were published in 1609 and 1621.
The magnificent baroque binding is of Roman design and can be attributed to the Soresini atelier. It is executed in the finest style of this famous family of bookbinders connected with the papal court. Founded in 1570, the bindery of Francesco Soresini and his son Prospero began to flourish after the death of Nicolo Franzese and their work is mainly related to the pontificate of Clement VIII (1592-1604). Baldasare Soresini, nephew of Prospero was connected with the Borghese family and he became the most important papal binder 1607 until about 1630 when the "Rospigliosi binder" took over. One of the most striking characteristics of the Soresini atelier is a flower within a spiral line, an important contribution to the new baroque "fanfare style", which the family helped to perfect. This example has, on both boards, ten different stamps with these spirals ending in a fleuron, forming an harmonious decorative pattern in which more traditional stamps also appear.
Some insignificant browning and spotting throughout. Good copy in a splendid fanfare binding. CRRA (1 copy); USTC 4033138 (5 copies); not in BMC STC Italian; KVK; WorldCat; cf. for the binding: Legatura romana barocca 9; G. Vianini Tolomei, ''Reliures romaines d'archives des XVe et XVIe siècles'', in: Bulletin du bibliophile, 1993, nr. 2, pl. VI.