Choix de Jolis Morceaux - Lefuel, Bookseller-Publisher 1826 - Antique French book with Engravings

A remarkable French miniature book from 1826, published in Paris by Lefuel under the title Choix de Jolis Morceaux, tirés des plus célèbres Poètes et Prosateurs Français. This collection brings together poetry and prose by various French writers and was produced as a lavishly decorated literary gift book and almanac.

The small volume features an engraved frontispiece and a series of twelve engravings accompanying the months of the year. These depict historical women, including Madame de Grignan, Mademoiselle de Montpensier, and Marie Louise d'Orléans. It is this combination of literature and portrait engravings that gives the book the character of the luxurious French almanacs issued for a wealthy readership in the first decades of the 19th century.

The original craftsmanship is also exceptionally beautiful. The leather binding was embellished with gold- and blind-stamped ornaments, while the marbled endpapers and full gilt edges have been preserved within. The exterior binding shows clear traces of its nearly two-century-long history, but the book block itself remains quite sturdy, and the engravings and printed pages have remained clearly legible.

An authentic French book object from the Restoration period, interesting for its literary content as well as its small engravings, decorative binding, and original gilt edges.

Details:

• Title: Choix de Jolis Morceaux, tirés des plus célèbres Poètes et Prosateurs Français
• Publisher: Lefuel, Libraire-Éditeur
• Place: Paris, France
• Year: 1826
• Period: French Restoration
• Classification: antique
• Language: French
• Content: French poetry and prose
• Illustrations: engraved frontispiece and 12 monthly engravings
• Binding: decorative leather binding with gold and blind tooling
• Endpapers: marbled paper
• Edges: fully gilt
• Dimensions: approx. 12.5 × 8.5 cm
• Thickness: approx. 2.5 cm
• Condition: book block still quite sturdy; clear signs of age and foxing. Binding heavily worn with damage to the spine, corners, and edges. See photos for the complete condition.