Lyme Caxton Missal
The Lyme Caxton Missal is an
, England, is the only nearly complete surviving copy of its earliest known edition. It is held in the library of the house and is on display to visitors.Contents
This missal contains the liturgy for the Mass according to the Sarum Rite (or Sarum Use) and is known as a Sarum Missal. This was the most popular version of the Mass used in England before the Reformation. This copy of the missal is from the earliest known printed edition of a Sarum Missal. It is printed throughout in two colours, red and black, and is the first book to carry Caxton's printer's device.[1] The missal is printed in ink on paper, with a leather binding, and it measures 34 by 24 cm.[2] It was famous at the time it was printed because it was one of the first books printed in two colours.[3] The missal contains 243 of its original 266 leaves and includes two full-page woodcuts coloured by hand; one depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus and the other God the Father enthroned. It was re-bound in the 19th century, but some fragments of the original 15th century binding survive.[4] Later markings have been added to the book by hand. These include a translation of the marriage service in English alongside the original Latin version,[1] obituaries relating to the deaths of members of the Legh family, and prayers to St Thomas.[4] In places the missal has been "censored" by hand, including the crossing out of the name of St Thomas Becket and of prayers for the Pope.[1]
History
The book was published by
Present day
The missal was purchased in 2008 by the
References
- ^ National Trust, archived from the originalon 7 September 2008, retrieved 22 January 2010
- ^ The Art Fund, retrieved 22 January 2010
- ^ National Trust, retrieved 22 January 2010
- ^ Heritage Lottery Fund, archived from the originalon 27 September 2011, retrieved 23 January 2010
- ^ National Trust Saves Unique Caxton Book For The Nation, Culture24, retrieved 22 January 2010
- ^ Haile, Deborah (3 September 2008), "Lyme library set for restoration", Manchester Evening News, M.E.N. Media, retrieved 22 January 2010
External links
- Lyme Missal information at the National Trust