Joseph ou le Vertueux Ouvrier by Abbe Petit | 1848

A striking 1848 edition of Joseph ou le Vertueux Ouvrier by M. l’Abbé Petit, printed in Lille by L. Lefort. This moral and religious tale, written by the author of Marie, ou la Vertueuse Ouvrière, was intended for 19th-century family and youth readership, blending moral instruction with engaging narrative.

Housed in a spectacular cartonnage romantique binding in deep midnight blue with elaborate rococo-inspired gilt decoration to both boards and spine, accented with intricate central medallions and floral motifs.  Binding tight and sound Minor rubbing to extremities and joints, small areas of gilt wear. Bumping to spine edges. Some scattered foxing on pages/page edges. 

Size: 4 1/4” x 7”

Condition: Good

The details of the binding displays the decorative French bookbinding tradition of the mid-19th century, designed to be as much an ornamental object as a literary work.