Fifteenth-century Carmelite Missal

[Missal. Carmelite Use].
Missale secundum Fratres B.V. Mariae de Monte Carmelo.
Brescia: Boninus de Boninis, de Ragusia, 14 August 1490.
(06471)

Numerous early printed missals, such as this edition published for the use of Carmelite monasteries, included music notation in the section of text located immediately prior to the Canon of the Mass. In this work, the red four-line staves and text were printed first, followed by the black woodblock-printed notes and text. The black ink can be seen to lay on top of the red-colored staves and large initial letters. In addition, the smaller initial letters in the text were highlighted by hand with a darker red ink. 

Published in Brescia in 1490, this copy is also notable for text alterations that occurred near the time of publication. To improve its functionality during liturgical services, the gathering of paper leaves containing the Canon of the Mass was replaced with vellum leaves bearing the same text copied in manuscript. As the Canon was used daily during the celebration of the Mass, this important section was written on a more durable material. Plaited leather button tabs were also attached to each vellum leaf in order to ease the turning of the pages during the liturgy.