Antique Italian Catholic Prayer Book with Gilt Edges and Separate Handwritten Card (1930)

Authentic antique devotional book: “Raccolta di Preghiere, di Meditazioni e di Letture”, an Italian Catholic prayer and meditation volume intended for daily spiritual practice, translated from French and attributed to the Countess of Flavigny.

Printed in Milan by the Pontifical Printing Institute Bertarelli, this edition includes a devotional frontispiece illustration, an original textile bookmark, and retains its gilt page edges, a refined feature typical of high-quality devotional books, enhancing both protection and visual elegance. Of special interest is the original handwritten accompanying card, separate from the book, dated May 26, 1939, written by Arrigo Pintonello and included with the volume. Pintonello was part of the Italian religious and educational milieu of the late 19th and early 20th century. The card adds documented provenance and transforms this offering into a historical lot rather than a standard devotional book.

Important clarification: The book does not contain handwritten inscriptions inside. The dedication is written only on the separate original accompanying card.

Details:
Title: Raccolta di Preghiere, di Meditazioni e di Letture
Author: Countess of Flavigny
Edition: Fourth edition
Place of printing: Milan, Italy
Printer: Stabilimento Pontificio Arti Grafiche Bertarelli
Language: Italian (translated from French)

Condition:
The leather binding is extremely fragile, with advanced wear and areas where the material is breaking and deteriorating.
The original protective slipcase shows numerous marks, abrasions and imperfections.
Pages show age toning and foxing.
Gilt edges remain visible.
The handwritten card is intact and legible.
A complete but very delicate copy, to be handled with care, offered exactly as shown in the photographs.