Antique Tortoise Shell Prayer Book Missal

An important antique missal or prayer book. The cover is of tortoise shell beautifully embellished with gold and sterling silver pique inlays. The front and back cover and the curved spine are all of highly polished. The gold-edged pages intact, and are firmly attached in the cover. Inside are several litho colored pages of illustration. Closes tightly with with a silver clasp in the front center. Condition: Excellent if not pristine, some foxing, no chips or bug bites or losses at all on the panels of fine antique tortoise shell. No lifts in the pique; no looseness at the spine. 

Provenance: From the estate of Maria De Ezeyza. Etched on the outside of the back cover.