(Early Manuscripts) 1 Vol. "Marian" Gebetbuch. Author anonymous. No...

(Early Manuscripts) 1 Vol. "Marian" Gebetbuch. Author anonymous. No place, [but likely Southern Germany or Austria], ca. 1757-1760. German-language Catholic devotional handbook "worinen auserlesene Gebetter von allen Bichern (sic) zu samen getragen." 4to, laid paper, measures: 8 x 6 inches (200 x 150 mm). Old blue morocco gilt, all edges gilt with goffering, gilt spine compartments; rebacked and structurally sound but bumped and rubbed, panels especially rather dessicated and showing cracking. "Ecclesiastical" armorial gilt stamp on both panels with date 1757 and owner's initials also gilt stamped. 140 leaves, all of which filled-in recto/verso; some internal spotting but generally clean. In one scribal hand with text and catchwords in brown ink and borders ruled in red. Executed in a "fraktur" style: manuscript title page with decorative vinescrolls, body of text with decorated initials and numerous floral and ornithological illustrations in ink. Ten mid-18th century engraved plates tipped in, most of them depicting Marian subjects; dampstaining to engraved frontis recto.