Antique Nineteenth Century French Romantic Binding, "Les Petits Guerriers"

The colorful binding design was painstakingly created by the use of hand cut bits of colored paper which were fused into the textured navy percoline cover boards with a custom plaque. The plaque, heated and then covered with gilt not only applied the intricate gilt designs to the front/back/spine, it sealed the paper into place, raising it slightly for a textural effect.

The front cover board has an amazing design of arabesques, flowers and festoons. A figure at the top holds two flowers in balance, two figural statues are placed in alcoves to either side of the gilt tooled title. The back cover board has a central urn filled with flowers. The spine has large medallions and the gilt tooled title. All page edges are gilt tipped.

The author of this title is a female, feu Madame Eugenie Foa, who penned various titles for young people in the mid eighteenth century. The French text (written for young persons) is illustrated by eight incredible full page color lithographs. They depict famous young military men including Napoleon, Kleber, Hoche,Duguay Trouin, Jean-Bart, Turenne and Le General Foy. The engravings have value individually and it is becoming a rare thing to find these fine collections intact.

The binding survives in very good condition with very light wear in accordance to age. The engravings are in excellent condition, retaining the original rich color. The binding measures: 8 1/8" x 5 1/2" x 5/8" thick.

This is a fantastic decorative title, with beautiful, early chromolithographs.

Item ID: LC121