1712 attributed French royal binding L'Office de la Semaine Sainte. Pepie, Paris. Possibly an Augustin du Sueil binding.

A handsome 1712 printing of the Office de la Semaine Sainte, both in Latin and French. An inscription on the blank endpapers (in French) states that the book belonged to Charles, the Duke of Berry, evidenced by the Golden Fleece (in the arms, on the front board) which was an award sent to him by his brother, Phillip, King of Spain, in 1701.

In addition, there's a high likelihood that we can consider the binding executed by Augustin du Sueil (note: the biographies cite some controversy regarding the spelling of his last name). The reasons for this conclusion are:

1. On his wife's death certificate, of 1714, he is designated as "Bookbinder to Monseigneur and Madame la Duchesse de Berry".

2. In 1717 Madame de Berry, through her father, petitioned the king to honor Du Sueil, which the king did, noting her statements regarding Du Sueil's excellence and naming Du Sueil as the King's Ordinary Bookbinder (in 1728, at the death of de Bois, he became Bookbinder to the King).

3. His family's registered address, on the 1714 death certificate, was on the rue Saint-Jacques in Paris, where this book was printed.

It seems highly likely that this is a Du Sueil binding. While it may seem plain, at first glance, a second look reveals interesting details. There's a roll at the base of the spine that's quite unique, including, what I would describe as, an egg with a tiny flower in it. Also, the roll used on the board edges and inner turn-in is unique, incorporating a roll with a tiny square consisting of three frames. The silk endpapers also hint at the high quality of the binding. As a whole, the spine compartment decoration is expertly applied (and there's a unique flame tool).

This edition of the Semaine Sainte contains one frontis and three full-page illustrations. The signature of "Bazin", (Nicolas Bazin), can be found on the frontis.

Bibliographic Details -

Worldcat OCLC number 2108392, among others. Found in a handful of libraries.

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 20 x 13 x 4 cm. Leather dark-red morocco binding. Boards with triple gilt fillet borders with corner florets. Central gilt medallion of the Duc de Berry on front and back. Spine with five raised bands; two rolls at bottom of spine alternating a flower with a circle with a tiny flower inside, five compartments with a central gilt bouquet emanating from a vase surrounded by swirling branches and a flame tool, one compartment with the title. Board edges and turn-ins rolled with a gilt alternating flower and triple frame square. All edges gilt, but with an underlying marble. Silk endpapers.

Illustrated, one frontis and three full-page illlustrations.

Ruled throughout in either a black, or a faded red.

Pages - frontis, (viii), 378, 286, 1 page privilege and verso of that leaf blank

Condition -

See pictures. Binding rubbed, with wear and bumps at corners. Head and tail of spine have a little damage (head - worming, tail, crack). At the front flyleaf, the silk has lifted and is present as the flyleaf; the backing has been removed except a remnant of it which is on the verso of the flyleaf.. 1st blank unpaginated binder's endpaper with "53" label and a lengthy note on the provenance. Pages toned throughout, with some foxing. Occasional dog-eared pages, thumbs, etc. Second part, page 7 missing most of bottom margin, no text affected. Also, the last leaf, the privilege, a large portion of the bottom corner is missing with some text missing.