For publication history including impetus provided by Jesuits in Rome and correspondence with Christopher Plantin, see Wadell, p. 9-17.

Engraved title leaf. Second leaf is dedication to Clement VIII by Jacobus Ximenez, Secretary of the Society of Jesus. Reader's preface, p. [5]. Index, p. [6]-[8]. On p. [9]-[10] is the papal privilege granted to Martin Nutius for the intended publication of Gerónimo Nadal's Adnotationes et meditationes, which appeared in 1595 with the present plates as illustrations, as well as for the 153 plates published separately. The privilege is signed by Vestrius Barbianus and dated Aug. 14, 1593. Plates of the present work very probably printed by Martin Nutius; see Wadell, p. 18.

The t.p. and plates are after drawings by Bernardino Passeri and Martin de Vos. They were engraved by Jeronimus, Antonie and Jan Wierx, Adriaen and Jan Collaert, and Karel van Mallery. Engraved head-piece, p. [3], and tail-piece, p. [8]. Three large foliated woodcut initials and one small.

In a box with line border above the image, each engraving bears the day in the church calendar with which is is associated, a Bible citation, and the year of Christ's life to which it pertains. At the right end of the box is an arabic numeral, giving the sequence of the image in Christ's life, by which the prints in the present work are ordered. Below the arabic numeral is a roman number, giving the sequence of the print's subject in the Gospel readings through the church year, by which the engravings are arranged in Nadal's Adnotationes et meditationes. The images bear letters keyed to explanations in a box beneath.

Brunet writes that the roman numeral was added for the publication of Adnotationes et meditationes, which would imply that the impressions in the present copy are not early. According to Wadell (p. 18), however, they are printed from the plates in early condition, with Bernardino Passeri's name on all but ten.

Brunet IV, 18

Wadell, M.B. Evangelicae historiae imagines

Engraved title leaf in Library's copy trimmed within the plate mark and remargined.

Binding: 19th-century marbled paper, half mottled calfskin. Brief author, title and date in gilt on spine label. Page edges pale yellow. Bookseller's description inserted.