Bible (1685) and Psalter (1686)

Both panels have the same decoration: in an open-work frame the quatrefoiled central ornament is surrounded with chased, punched, circular foliage ornamentation. On its five-ribbed spine the fields are decorated with filigree corner motifs and central motifs of flowers. The ribs used to be gilt. On the border of the panels is gilt foliage ornamentation. The headband is sewn from natural coloured cotton thread. The gilt tool is punched with flowers and scrolls. The endpaper is marbled. The fittings of late renaissance style — on the corners intertwining acanthus flowers, on the clasps winged heads of putti composed in plaited bands — were, according to Mariann Rozsondai put on the binding later, in Transylvania. Miklos Totfalusi Kis, returning from the Netherlands in 1690, brought back with him some of the books he had published and bound and gave some of them to his friends and patrons. Analogous pieces to the binding are in the University Library of Budapest (Cat. 1986b No. 71.) and formerly in the collection of the Museum of Applied Arts. (Cat. 1983d No. 43.)