Le Petit Matelot by Césarie Farrenc (1858) – French Cartonnage Romantique Binding by Mame et Cie, Tours

Title translation: The Little Sailor

A beautiful mid-19th-century French cartonnage romantique binding, Le Petit Matelot by Mme Césarie Farrenc, published by Mame et Cie in Tours, 1858. This “nouvelle édition” features the publisher’s signature elaborate gilt and blind-stamped boards on a vivid turquoise cloth, with a central hand-colored vignette depicting a seaside scene.

Inside, the moral tale follows the trials and virtue of the young sailor Lazare, written in Farrenc’s compassionate and moralizing prose typical of the Mame publishing house’s family literature of the period. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece.

Bindings of this quality were cherished as gift books in 19th-century France, their ornate covers reflecting both artistry and craftsmanship—an enduring emblem of the golden age of decorative book production.

Only light foxing to prelims; binding tight, bright gilt, and well-preserved.

Condition: Very GoodSize: 3½” × 6”

A fine and vibrant example of a Mame cartonnage romantique, showcasing remarkable preservation and color depth rarely seen in mid-century gift bindings.