A very thorough academic account of the unique illuminated manuscript missal given in 1504  by the Prior of St Gilles in Provence to the Order of St John on the island of Rhodes where it stayed until the Order removed to Malta following Rhodes capitulation to the Turks.  Its subequent loss in the C18th was followed by its purchase by the Order in 1926 from an Italian book dealerand its restitution to the British Order's library in London where it now resides.  Full descriptions are given of each of the manuscript's exuberant miniatures and illuminated initial letters as well as notes on border and flower decorations.  Also included is an Appendix on the use, appearance and variety of Shepherd's houlettes several of which appear in the missal's illustrations.  Includes b&w reproductions of manuscript miniatures and six fine colour plates.  Paperback.  48 pages.  Faint sticker mark to front cover corner, otherwise in good clean condition with no library markings or inscriptions.  Cat No  4643