1670 – Officium S. Elisabeth Viduae

Title:                   Officium S. Elisabeth Viduae. Semiduplex.
                    (The Office of St Elizabeth, Widow. Semidouble rank)
​
Description:
This is an original Latin liturgical print of the Office for St Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231), whose feast falls on 19 November. The Sacred Congregation of Rites approved it to be added to the Roman Breviary by order of Pope Clement X. Clergy and religious bound to the Divine Office could choose to recite it.

On page 3, the Congregation’s decree is dated 13 September 1670. The office was granted at the request of the Cardinal Landgrave of Hesse, Friedrich of Hesse-Darmstadt, whose house descended from St Elizabeth. The texts were revised by Cardinal Giovanni Bona. The decree is signed by Cardinal Marzio Ginetti, Bishop of Porto, and by Bernardino Casali, secretary of the Congregation.

The whole leaflet is printed in red and black, with woodcut initials and a fine red woodcut tailpiece of a winged cherub between baskets of flowers.

Publisher:             Sacred Congregation of Rites, under Pope Clement X

Leaf size:                 17,9 x 15,8 cm
Year:                        1670
Technique:          Letterpress in red and black, with woodcut initials and tailpiece

Condition:
Fair to good. There is a brown damp stain along the upper part of both leaves, reaching the title on page 1. A dark ink stroke crosses page 1 near “Semiduplex”, and the fold shows light creasing. The edges have some small chips and nicks, and there is a little soiling. The red and black printing is still clear.
​
This is an original antique map published in 1670 and NOT a modern copy or reprint

On your request I will provide a Certificate of Authenticity