"Graduel romain a l'usage des religieuses soeurs grises de Wisbecq en Brugelette fait par M.r. Jean Baptiste Lebeau directeur desdittes religieuses".

Latin manuscript on paper, c. 52,5 x 36 cm: [4]-100-lxxii pp., written in black and red ink, musical annotation in black on 4 red staves, titles and initials in red (flyleaves sl. soiled).

Cont. blind-decorated calf, covers with double ruled border and roll-stamp with palm and flower motives, large openwork gilt metal corner pieces with rocaille, palm and fruit motives in the corners of the larger frame, small flowery corner stamps on inside and outside of the smaller frame, large central openwork gilt metal piece with foliage, fruit and palmetto motives, brass clasps and catches, brass corner pieces, blindruled spine on 7 raised bands, remnants of white paper bookmarks on fore edge, modern red cloth case (sl. rubbed, spine expertly repaired). In very good condition.

Superbly well-preserved Graduale in its original binding with rococo-style metal ornament pieces. Interesting copy partly "au pochoir" (stenciled), with black and red ink. The title page is signed by the director of the "soeurs grises" of Wisbecq in Brugelette, Lebeau, and dated 2 August 1769 in fine. In the year 1406 and coming from Saint-Omer, the "soeurs grises" took up residence in a hospital already mentioned in documents dated 1243, and established a school. In 1436, Quentine de Jauche-Mastaing began the construction of a convent. In 1483, the religious community became "l'Ordre des soeurs grises hospitalières de Brugelette", expanding to 20 convents in Picardy and Flanders. After the expulsion of the nuns in 1797, the hospital served as a retirement home, before becoming a Jesuit college from 1835 to 1853. When the Sisters of the Infant Jesus of Nivelles bought back the building, they made it into an orphanage. Since WWII, the building houses an institute for mentally impaired children.