Life of Saint Clotilde - Sophie de Renneville - Ad. Mame et Cie, Tours 1846

A richly decorated French edition of Vie de Sainte Clotilde, Reine de France, attributed to Sophie de Renneville and published by Ad. Mame et Cie in Tours in 1846.

The book tells the life of Saint Clotilde, queen of the Franks and wife of Clovis I. Her life story is followed by an extensive historical section on the customs and practices during the first centuries of the French monarchy, with topics such as the Franks, the Salic law, early Christianity, feudal customs and the development of French society.

Particularly beautiful is the richly decorated dark blue 19th-century binding, featuring extensive gold-colored ornamentation across both boards and the spine. Inside is an engraved title page depicting Clotilde praying at the tomb of Saint Martin.

On the front endpaper is an old French ownership or school label dated 1847, just one year after the book's publication. Later ownership notes and an old inventory number have also been preserved.

• Title: Vie de Sainte Clotilde, Reine de France
• Author: attributed to Sophie de Renneville
• Publisher: Ad. Mame et Cie, Imprimeurs-Libraires
• Place of publication: Tours, France
• Year: 1846
• Edition: Nouvelle édition, revue et corrigée
• Language: French
• Subject: Saint Clotilde, Clovis I, Franks and early French history
• Illustration: engraved illustrated title page
• Binding: richly decorated 19th-century hardcover/cartonnage
• Dimensions: approx. 18 × 11 cm
• Thickness: approx. 2 cm
• Provenance: old French label dated 1847 and later ownership notes
• Condition: clear signs of use and age, wear to binding and corners, foxing and discoloration
• Spine and some corners repaired in the past
• Binding is fragile but still intact