Catechismus (manuscript)

Handwritten catechismus by H. den Dubbelden, "capellani Sti. Jacobi Sijlva Ducis 1795, 13 Augusti". Henricus den Dubbelden (1769-1851) was a Dutch clergyman and vicar and later bishop of the Roman Catholic church. When he wrote this manuscript he was active in Den Bosch at the St Jacobschurch. Den Dubbelden filled a little over half of this beautifully bound notebook with questions and answers concerning the christian faith. 79 pages are numbered, 78 pages are filled with writing. The rest of the pages are still blank. Full marbled leather binding with goldtooling on the outside of the binding (spine, front and back), the inside (along the blue coloured endpapers) and the edges of the binding. The bookblock has gilded edges and the handsewn headbands and a green bookmark ribbon are still present. The book has been used to store some small items. Between pages 54 and 55 we find a handcoloured print with some gilding and the text "Purificatio Virgines Mariae". Between pages 58-59 we find a small printed leaflet entitled "Aflaten" (Indulgence). It is dated to 1794 and printed by Jacobus Scheffers, 's Bosch. And for whatever reason there is also a small pin between pages 2 and 3. The writing is clear and legible, the pages without any stains, except for pages 58-59. The book seems to have laid openend on these pages for a while with something on top, judging by the smudging. From the collection of Jelle Kaspersma and Alie Vinke.…