Folio 150 from the Graduale Dominicali, New Spain, 1576 by (American Incunabula) - 1576

Mexico City: Pedro Ocharte and Antonio Espinosa, 1576. Near fine. Single leaf 10 by 15 inches, printed on both sides on fine paper in red and black. The leaf begins with the chant "Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus" and a large two line woodcut 'P' in red. Near the bottom begins the 'Feria secunda post Pascha. Introitus", with the verse "Introduxit vos dominus in terram..." and beginngin with a large historialed woodcut intiial 'I' printed in red and black. On the obverse is found the beginning of the Gradual "Hec [sic] dies quam fecit dominus..." and with a large two line woodcut 'H' printed in red. The five line chant has staves printed in red with black notes, the stems on the virgae descending to the bottom line of music regardless of where they occur on the staff, a point which distinguishes this printing form many others. The first and third music selections are in the 'fah' clef; the introit in the 'do' clef.

The term American Incunabula is generally used to indicate imprints in the Americas in the 16th century beginning with Mexico City in 1539.

A little fingering and soil else this is a very good exemplar and quite rare. Only 4 copies of the Graduale are known (Library of Congress, Newberry Library, Biblioteca Nacional and one in private hands in Mexico. We have been unable to find a census of individual leaves form the Graduale but note that there are no copies of it otherwise available, nor are there many other American Incunabular available leaves either.