Abstract This study presents an interdisciplinary investigation of the Missale Aboense (1488), the first printed book commissioned for use in present-day Finland. While medieval manuscripts have been widely studied, printed books on parchment remain understudied, particularly regarding their material properties and production practices. Focusing on the nearly complete parchment copy in the Royal Danish Library, we combine historical, codicological, and scientific methods to examine its manufacture and use. Our approach integrates visual analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), biocodicology (ZooMS, PQI, DNA, microbiome analysis), and image-based use-wear analysis using Microscopy Image Browser (MIB). Results confirm calf parchment, sheepskin binding, and standard late fifteenth-century inks and pigments selected for practical printing needs. Use-wear and microbiome data reveal handling patterns consistent with liturgical practice, including heavier wear on recto pages and frequent consultation of core sections. The study offers rare insight into early printing on parchment in late medieval Northern Europe.
Kasso et al. (Thu,) studied this question.