ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT. JAN CAMPS, bookbinder. ~ Semaine des ames du Purgatoire.
10 page illuminated manuscript on 5 vellum leaves, with detailed painted floral borders iwth tendrils highlighted in gold and silver and 8 elaborate painted miniature initials highlighted in gold and silver. 13.5 x 18.5 cms, 8vo., in a signed binding by J.-J. Camps with each leaf bound into an elegant citrus full Duvall ppaer covered binding, with delicate gilt lettering to spine and upper cover, with circles and thin rectangles cut out of the boards to reveal pieces of medieval manuscript below, grey and black paper endpapers, housed in the original grey cloth, velour lined solander box with leather and gilt spine label. An extremely elegant book.
J.-J. Camps is a remarkable bookbinding studio run by Jan and Julia Camps in Belgium. Together and separately they have won many bookbinding competitions both for historical bindings and fine designer bookbindings. This is an exquisite and clever binding by Jan Camps (denoted by the male symbol after the bindery’s signature) of a rather beautiful late nineteenth/early twentieth century manuscript which gives the prayers for souls in purgatory. They are particularly to be recited in November which is the month dedicated to such souls. It is said that by reciting the prayers each day for a week each one gains 100 days of indulgence...
A remarkably pleasing book.