Manuscript on paper, on both sides of leaves, in 29 to 33 lines; portions in 2 columns. Written by at least 2 scribes in Roman and Italic scripts imitating printed types. Main text in black ink, rubrics in red; holy names in gold; 1-line red initials, 2- to 3-line red, black, gold and silver initials, with decoration (possibly stenciled) in the same or contrasting colors; ornamental head- and tailpieces throughout. Title page with full-page cartouche in brown ink enclosing the title in red ink.
Prayers, devotions and spiritual exercises. Named authors include Thomas à Kempis, Thomas Aquinas and Jean Gerson.
Illustrated with 221 contemporary engravings (including at least 6 repeats or variant states), which are integrated into the text. They range in size from very small oval images to 12 full-page images; 102 are trimmed to approximately the size of the plate mark and mounted, the remaining 119 are bound in. Most have original engraved legends and/or artists' signatures; with a few exceptions, bound-in prints have continuation of the manuscript text on verso and usually also in margins of image on recto (space permitting). 119 engravings (including 5 repeats or variant states) are by the Wierix brothers, Jeronimus, Antonie II, and Jan, mostly by Jeronimus and Antonie and 2 or possibly 3 by Jan; many also signed by Jeronimus or Antonie as publisher (excudit). There are also engravings by and/or published by Théodore Galle (13, possibly 14), Cornelis Galle (1), Karel van Mallery (12, including 1 repeat), Adriaen Collaert (4), Jean Messager (3, possibly 5), Mathieu Greuter (2), Thomas de Leu (2), Jacques Granthomme (2), Raphael Sadeler (1), Pierre Firens (1), Peter Overadt (1), and the monogrammists LB (1) and PDL or LPD (1); some of these are copies of prints by the Wierix brothers. Several prints are after designs by Maarten de Vos. A complete inventory, with references to published catalogues raisonnés of prints by the Wierix brothers, is given on the Web site of the vendor, Les Enluminures (viewed September 16, 2013): http://www.textmanuscripts.com/manuscript_description.php?id=3005. A printout is available in the Print Collection.
Apparently complete, but binding does not permit accurate collation. In 35 gatherings containing from 7 to 19 leaves each, signed at foot of first recto with letters A-2M (gatherings between 2D and 2K now lack signing). Modern foliation in pencil on most leaves. Two blank leaves at beginning and end.
Page block has been trimmed in binding, affecting text in margins on some leaves and marginal areas of some full-page prints. Some minor worming on a few leaves.