MISSALE PRAGENSIS, LEIPZIG, CONRAD KACHELOFEN, 1498, COLOURED, CONTEMPORARY CALF

Median folio (354 x 2149mm.), 344 leaves (of 355), [*10] A-P8 Q6 [R-S8 T6 V8] a8+1 b-z8 [**4], double column, 31 lines plus headlines, gothic type, printed in red and black throughout, hand-coloured woodcut on title-page, hand-coloured full-page woodcut of the four Prague saints on verso of title-page, 6-line initial on A1 and a1 in green and grey  on a gold ground, other 6-line initials in red and blue, 2-line lombard initials printed in red, typeset music, contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (a Leipzig binding, perhaps EBDB w003615?), lettered "Missale" at head of upper cover, two clasps, manuscript fragments in binding, stubs of index tabs, lacking M3 and M6 (stubs visible) and quire [V8] (Canon of the Mass, printed on vellum) and blank leaf z8, v4 lacking lower half of leaf (with blank ruled paper supplied), y1-2 transposed, lower sections of y2-4 with text replaced in manuscript, title-page repaired at edges and slightly soiled, A1 torn and repaired at edges, other marginal tears and repairs, O7 torn at foot, Q5-6 damaged and repaired with some sections of text covered with replacement manuscript text, a few small wormholes at foot, i6 with crude repair at foot, rebacked and repaired at corners, pigskin soiled or stained, lacking both straps, lacking five round bosses on each cover

Hauswedell & Nolte (Hamburg), sale, 1978

Goff M686; HC 11354; BMC iii 628; BSB-Ink M-451.050; Weale-Bohatta 798; Meyer-Baer 109

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

RARE. ISTC records 10 copies of this edition. Unlike earlier liturgical printing, Kachelofen's books were not printed under the auspices of a bishop or similar, but were produced on a purely commercial basis. The binding is very similar (but not identical) to that on the copy in the Bavarian State Library, also lettered "Missale", but retaining all its round bosses.