1852 - Maria ou Confiance en Porte Bonheur

Title translation: Maria or Trust in Luck

By Augusta D.

Published 1852
Alfred Mame, Publishers/ Tours, France

Sixieme Edition

In the 19th century, France witnessed a remarkable era of artistic and luxurious bookbinding known as cartonnage. Cartonnage bindings emerged as a popular form of decorative coverings for books, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and artistic sensibilities of the time. These bindings were typically made from stiffened pasteboard or cardboard, covered in decorative paper or silk fabrics adorned with intricate designs, gold tooling, and vibrant colors.

French cartonnage bindings of the 19th century often incorporated various techniques such as embossing, gilding, and marbling to create visually striking covers that captivated the eyes of book lovers and collectors alike.

Hardcover. Stunning cartonnage binding. Blue with elaborate gilt detail to both boards and spine. Illustrated pastedown to front board. Frontispiece/engraving with tissue guard. Paste down to inside front board noting this was given to a student as a prize/gift. Binding tight. Clean pages. Foxing to some pages. 

Size: 3 3/4” x 5 3/4”