Leaf from a Stenciled Breviary.

Leaf from a Stenciled Breviary.

Spain

18th c.?

Although at first glance this leaf from a Spanish breviary might look handwritten, the text, musical notes, and suspension marks are all stenciled. See, for example, the characteristic breaks of the stenciled ‘e’ in the word Mentibus on the second line down.   

Large stenciled liturgical books were produced in Catholic areas of Europe between the mid-seventeenth and late nineteenth centuries. Stenciling allowed the maker to emulate printed, engraved, or skillfully handwritten texts with relative ease, while the large size and legibility of the characters aided in communal chant. Most stenciled books were made for local use and produced in single copies only.  

Purchased in 2018 with Grolier Club Library Harper Funds.