Antique French Romantic Binding, "Itineraire Paris a Jerusalem" circa 1864

The cover boards are of hardened paper covered in percoline. The percoline has an impressed pattern of raised hexacombs. A special plaque was made to stamp (using heat) the gilt design over the top of the colored paper medallions. As the gilt melted into the the cover boards, the medallions seemed to raise up, giving a textural feel to the book. Both the front and back covers as well as the spine are ornamented in the same fashion. On the interior, the endpapers are of yellow paper. The page edges of the binding are gilded.

The French text is written for young people and is easily read by intermediate students of French. It is illustrated by four fine, full page engravings, including a frontispiece.

The author of the text, Francois -René, Vicomte de Chateaubriand was a Politician, Diplomat, Writer and Historian. (1768-1848). This title recounts travel to Travels in Greece, Palestine, Egypt, and Barbary, during the years 1806 and 1807.

The binding measures:10 3/4" x 6 5/8" x 1 1/8" thick. It is in good condition and is sound. It does have wear to the cover edges and an old repair at the spine on the bottom 2" of the front coverboard. This repair was well done.

It is a fabulous early decorative title and an interesting historical read for students of French and history.

Item ID: LC118