Le Premier Pas dans le Monde: Leçons de Politesse by C. Fallet | 1856 | Cartonnage Romantique with Illustrated Front Board & Ornate Pink, White & Gold Back Board

A breathtaking example of mid-19th century French cartonnage romantique, this 1856 edition of Le Premier Pas dans le Monde: Leçons de Politesse by C. Fallet offers both literary charm and extraordinary visual appeal. Published by Mégard et Cie in Rouen, the book is bound in an elaborate polychrome and gilt-blocked decorative binding featuring floral motifs and a vibrant central scene on the front cover.

Title translation: The First Step into the World: Lessons in Politeness

This instructional tale, offering moral and social guidance for young women, is beautifully illustrated throughout with finely detailed steel engravings that follow the characters’ emotional journeys. The opening pages feature a poignant dedication dated 1876, with period handwriting and a stamp from the Pensionnat de Montigny, adding an extra layer of historical provenance.

Binding remains bright and richly detailed. Interior pages are clean with light toning. Engravings retain strong impressions. Inscriptions and stamp to front endpapers. Hinges sound.

Condition: Very Good ++.

Size: 4 1/4” x 7”

An exquisite and scarce collectible—perfect for collectors of devotional literature, decorative bindings, and women’s education in 19th-century France.