This folio volume of the Acta Sanctorum Iunii, printed in Antwerp in 1698, represents one of the earliest waves of the monumental Jesuit scholarly project begun in the mid-17th century. Compiled by the Bollandists, the Acta Sanctorum was an ambitious series that sought to preserve and analyze the lives of saints with a rigor that distinguished it from earlier hagiographies. Produced in Antwerp, one of Europe’s leading centers of printing, these volumes circulated among universities, monasteries, and ecclesiastical libraries. Surviving examples from the 17th century are scarce, particularly those retaining their folio scale and devotional presence.
The text is printed on rag paper, the durable linen- and cotton-based stock favored before the introduction of wood pulp. The paper remains strong and supple despite its age, with expected toning and scattered foxing. The binding is leather with raised bands, but it was almost certainly rebacked or rebound in the 19th century, a common practice for volumes that saw heavy ecclesiastical or scholarly use. This intervention, while not original, has ensured the book’s survival and usability into the present.
Details:
Acta Sanctorum Iunii (Lives of the Saints for June)
Antwerp, 1698
Folio format
Printed on rag paper, double columns, woodcut initials and devices
Bound in full leather with raised bands; likely rebacked/rebound in the 19th century
Condition: binding worn and scuffed with dryness to leather; hinges intact but rubbed; interior with toning, foxing, and age wear; text complete and legible
