LITURGY -- Diurnum monasticum.  Use of Monte Cassino. Venice: Lucantonio Giunta, 1509.
LITURGY -- Diurnum monasticum. Use of Monte Cassino. Venice: Lucantonio Giunta, 1509.

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LITURGY -- Diurnum monasticum. Use of Monte Cassino. Venice: Lucantonio Giunta, 1509.

8o (155 x 105 mm). Printed in red and black. Small woodcut of St. Benedict on title, printer's woodcut device in red on title; 6 full-page woodcuts, each with a facing full-page composite woodcut border, another full-page composite woodcut border, numerous smaller woodcuts and historiated initials. Contemporary Austrian blind-paneled calf over wooden boards, with an animal roll, "Diur. mon." stamped on cover, brass centerpiece and clasps. Provenance: acquired from Bernard Quaritch, 1980.

The Monastic diurnal is a liturgical book of the Western Rite, containing the Day Hours of the Monastic Divine Office: that is, all of the canonical Hours of Prayer recited by Benedictine monks throughout the day, except the Office of Matins (also called Vigils or Nocturns). A "Breviary", as opposed to a "Diurnal," is a much larger book (usually split up into two or four seasonal volumes) because it contains materials for Matins as well as the Day Hours.

Giunta also published Diurnale monasticum secundum rubricam romanam in 1515, which contained 4 woodcuts and facing borders, see Sander 2444 and Brunet II, 768. VERY RARE: not in Adams, Sander or Brunet. A VERY FRESH COPY IN A FINE CONTEMPORARY AUSTRIAN BINDING.

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