Les Orphelins — Lucie des Âges (1897, Alfred Mame et Fils)

A touching late 19th-century French moral tale by Lucie des Âges, Les Orphelins (“The Orphans”), published in Tours by Alfred Mame et Fils in 1897.

This finely printed and elegantly bound volume tells the sentimental story of two orphaned children, Paul and his sister, navigating hardship with courage and devotion. Woven through the narrative are themes of faith, perseverance, and selflessness—hallmarks of French livres de prix (school prize books) of the era.

Bound in a richly chromolithographed cartonnage romantique binding depicting two young boys in uniform with red sashes and caps, the front cover is framed in ornate gold borders, while the back features a serene alpine landscape with mountain chalets and wildflowers.

Illustrated with a finely detailed engraved frontispiece by Pisan, this volume reflects both the literary and artistic excellence of the Mame publishing house, renowned for its award-winning decorative bindings and moral literature.

Light wear to corners and spine edges; interior clean with mild age toning; binding tight.

Condition: Very Good +

Size: 3 ¾” x 6”

A charming and beautifully preserved example of Mame’s late-19th-century Bibliothèque de la Jeunesse series, with both visual and literary appeal.