Antique 1875 German Velvet Prayer Book, Complete 1864 School Certificate, Brook For Sale

An absolute masterwork time capsule for serious collectors of religious antiquities, sacred folk art, and rare transatlantic genealogical history! This is a breathtaking, luxury-edition late 19th-century German Catholic prayer book and devotional missal published by the legendary Butzon & Bercker house in the historic pilgrimage town of Kevelaer, Germany. It comes magnificently preserved alongside its rare, original black cloth-lined folding protective case.
What elevates this specific volume into an elite, investment-grade historical archive are the five separate handwritten, primary document, mechanical, and sentimental botanical elements beautifully preserved together, detailing a family\'s journey from the Kingdom of Württemberg to Brooklyn, New York:
1. The Transatlantic Family Birth Registry: Written across the inside flyleaf pages in elegant, hand-inked antique German Kurrentschrift script is a magnificent family ledger documenting the births of six children across two continents. The entries chronicle Emma (b. 1881 in Ludwigsburg, Germany), Karl (b. 1883 in Rottenacker, Germany), Bertha (b. 1885 in Schussenried, Germany), Agnes (b. 1888 in Bußhof, Germany), Katy (b. September 26, 1892 in Brooklyn, NY), and Heinrich (b. March 27, 1895 in Brooklyn, NY).
2. The Complete 1864 School Graduation: Tucked safely inside is the, original printed and hand-inked Entlassungs-Zeugniß (Graduation Certificate) for a young student named Ida Spiecker (born September 11, 1850). Issued on April 19, 1864, in Thier (Wipperfürth district, Kingdom of Prussia), it features her flawless, top-tier report card grades (\"Sehr gut\") and official signatures from her teacher Schmöle and school board head J. Schmitz.
3. Two Original Pressed Four-Leaf Clovers: Tucked directly between pages 30 and 31—resting over the traditional Catholic evening prayer to Mary (\"Gebet zu Maria\")—is one of the two authentic, beautifully dried Victorian four-leaf clover. Placed there generations ago as sacred tokens of faith, luck, and protection, they remain perfectly flattened and intact.
4. The Accordion Folding Leporello Devotional: Bound beautifully into the rear pages is a spectacular, multi-paneled folding accordion paper manuscript. It is meticulously hand-inked in dark sepia tones, laid out as a deeply personal spiritual devotion structured around a repeating sacred cross motif (\"Im Kreuze...\").
5. Ornate IHS Brass Clasp & Hardware: The fore-edge features a fully functional, intricate openwork brass swing clasp. The lock face is beautifully cast with the sacred \"IHS\" Christogram monogram. The text block is brilliantly finished in heavy gold gilt edge detailing, accented by tiny brass protective corner rivets (bosses) designed to lift the velvet slightly off tables to prevent surface wear.
Details:• Publisher: Butzon & Bercker (Kevelaer, Germany)• Title: Gebete aus den Schriften der Heiligen (Prayers from the Writings of the Saints)• Lithographer: Müller-Schmitz & Co. (Münster, Westphalia)• When was it made: Victorian Era (Circa. 1875)• Materials: Silk Velvet, Celluloid (French Ivory), Brass, Heavy Cardstock, Pressed Botanical Specimens• Language: German and Latin (Featuring printed Fraktur Gothic type and hand-inked Kurrentschrift script)• Includes Original Box
Dimensions:Book Size: Approximately 4.5 inches tall by 3 inches wide by 1.25 inches thick.
Condition:
• This antique book is in incredible, near-pristine condition for its age. The purple velvet cover shows minimal fading with beautiful pile and only microscopic, minor shelf-rubbing at the extreme corner tips. The carved celluloid cross is completely intact and corner scroll filigree panels are overall intact, but are missing some pieces (please closely refer to photos).
• The brass IHS clasp swings smoothly and locks with a satisfying, tight snap closure. The internal binding remains exceptionally tight and structurally sound with brilliant, reflective gold edge gilt.
• The unique accordion folding manuscript insert must be gently opened and is still completely intact, along with its original folds.
•The loose 1864 school board certificate is NOT fully intact. Due to age, it has split down the middle, at the center crease of the paper. There is age-appropriate edge fraying and natural sepia toning along the fold lines, but the certificate remains fully legible. To prevent further wear and tear, the entire document is not included in a photo. It must be opened cautiously and gently to avoid further splitting of the document.
• The two dried four-leaf clovers are wonderfully flattened and fragile, having lightly stained the porous antique paper over the decades—a prized visual marker of authenticity.
• The original folding cardboard protective case shows honest, age-appropriate storage shelf wear and structural splitting along the outer paper seams, but remains fully functional.
Please review all photos closely to appreciate this magnificent religious treasure.