Copper engraving (c. 300 x 210 mm) on linen (c. 410 x 285 mm) depicting the Holy Face of Jesus within a frame, two-line caption and one-line imprint below, ink stamp ('Gratis') and small red wax Vatican seal to bottom corners. With an accompanying fifteen-line printed certificate (c. 140 x 188 mm) dated 28 Feb. 1884 with matching Vatican stamp and seal.
 
A 'true copy' of the famous Veil of Veronica (or Sudarium) preserved in St Peter's Basilica in Rome, printed during the papacy of Leo XIII, with an accompanying certificate stating that this image had been reverently touched to the Veil itself, to a piece of the True Cross, and to the Holy Lance, to enhance its holiness. The legend of St Veronica relates that she offered her head-cloth to Jesus to wipe the blood and sweat from his face on the way to Calvary, and that he returned it with his features impressed upon it.  "A portrait professing to be the original imprint, which seems to have been at Rome since the 8th century, was translated by Boniface VIII to St Peter's in 1297. The relic at Rome was greatly venerated throughout the Middle Ages... and Milan and Jaen also claimed possession of the original head-cloth. The incident now occupies a recognized position in the Stations of the Cross" (Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church).  OCLC records only one copy, in Warsaw Public Library. The certificate reads: SACROSANCTAE BASILICAE PRINCIPIS APOSTOLORUM DE URBE CANONICUS Universis praesentes litteras inspecturis fidem facio, ac testor me Imaginem Vultus DOMINI NOSTRI JESU CHRISTI ad instar Sanctissimi Sudarii Veronicae in tela albi coloris impressam altitudinis unc[iarum] ___ latitudinis unc[iarum] ___ reverenter applicasse eidem Sudario, nec non Ligno vivificae Crucis et Lanceae Dominicae cuspidi, quae in praedicta nostra Basilica religiosissime osservantur, ac pluribus Summorum Pontificum Diplomatibus maximaque populorum veneratione celebrantur. In quorum fidem praedictae Imaginem et has praesentes litteras meo sigillo obsignari et subscripsi. Dabam ex aedibus meis. Die ___ Anno Domini MDCCCLXXXIV Indictione Pontificatus SS. D. N. Leonis XIII Pont. Max. anno VII. Canon of the Most Holy Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles in the City [of Rome] — i.e. a Canon of St. Peter's Basilica. "To all who shall examine these present letters, I certify and bear witness that I have reverently applied the Image of the Face of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST — made in the likeness of the Most Holy Veil of Veronica, impressed on white cloth, of a height of ___ inches and width of ___ inches — to that same Veil [of Veronica], and also to the Wood of the life-giving Cross and to the point of the Lord's Lance, which are most religiously preserved in our aforesaid Basilica and are honoured by numerous decrees of the Supreme Pontiffs and by the great veneration of the peoples. In witness of which I have had the aforesaid Image and these present letters sealed with my seal and have signed them. Given from my residence, on the ___ day. In the Year of the Lord 1884, in the Pontificate of Our Most Holy Lord Leo XIII, in the 7th year of his Supreme Pontificate."