1837 French Children’s Cartonnage Book, Les Charmes de l’Ermitage by Élise Brun
1837 French Children’s Cartonnage Book, Les Charmes de l’Ermitage by Élise Brun
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A wonderfully decorative 1837 French children’s book, Les Charmes de l’Ermitage: Historiettes et Nouvelles propres à former le coeur et l’esprit de la jeunesse, written by Mlle Élise Brun and published in Paris by P.-C. Lehuby, Librairie de l’Enfance et de la Jeunesse.
The book retains an exceptionally pretty pale green publisher’s binding richly decorated in gilt, with elaborate scrolling ornament, floral details, architectural motifs, and a central landscape vignette to the front board. The reverse is similarly decorated with a central floral bouquet surrounded by gilt rococo-style ornament.
Inside, the volume includes an engraved decorative title page and engraved illustrations, including a charming frontispiece showing elegantly dressed figures in a wooded setting.
The Morgan Library records this title as having been published in Paris in 1837, with 206 pages and four illustrated plates.
Era
1837
Early Victorian / French July Monarchy period.
Author
Mlle Élise Brun, identified on the title page as an institutrice, or female teacher/governess.
Publisher
P.-C. Lehuby
Librairie de l’Enfance et de la Jeunesse
Paris, France
A surviving institutional copy held by the Morgan Library is likewise catalogued as the 1837 Paris edition published by P.-C. Lehuby.
History
Les Charmes de l’Ermitage belongs to the early 19th-century tradition of moral and educational literature written specifically for young readers.
Its subtitle translates roughly as:
“Little histories and stories suitable for forming the heart and mind of youth.”
Books of this type were intended not merely to entertain children, but to cultivate good manners, morality, sentiment, and character through instructive stories.
What makes this example especially appealing is its survival in an unusually decorative binding. The elaborate gilt and colored cover decoration transforms what was originally an educational children’s book into a beautiful example of French Romantic-era book design.
Provenance
Sourced in France.
Materials
Paper
Printed and engraved illustrations
Decorative publisher’s boards
Pale green surface decoration
Extensive gilt embossing and tooling
Dimensions
Please provide the exact height, width, and thickness and I can insert them.
The Morgan Library’s copy is catalogued at approximately 15 cm / 5.9 inches tall.
Condition
Good antique condition considering the book is nearly 190 years old.
The binding shows expected edge and corner wear, rubbing, small losses, and some lifting or deterioration along the spine and joints. The gilt decoration remains remarkably attractive and legible.
Interior pages exhibit scattered foxing, toning, and age-related spotting. The engraved illustrations and title pages remain clear and attractive.
The binding appears intact overall, although care should be taken when opening due to its age.
Please review all photographs closely for condition.
Disclaimers
Antique books may exhibit foxing, toning, staining, loose or weakened hinges, edge wear, inscriptions, minor tears, binding deterioration, and other age-related characteristics. These are consistent with their age and history and should be expected.
A wonderfully decorative 1837 French children’s book, Les Charmes de l’Ermitage: Historiettes et Nouvelles propres à former le coeur et l’esprit de la jeunesse, written by Mlle Élise Brun and published in Paris by P.-C. Lehuby, Librairie de l’Enfance et de la Jeunesse.
The book retains an exceptionally pretty pale green publisher’s binding richly decorated in gilt, with elaborate scrolling ornament, floral details, architectural motifs, and a central landscape vignette to the front board. The reverse is similarly decorated with a central floral bouquet surrounded by gilt rococo-style ornament.
Inside, the volume includes an engraved decorative title page and engraved illustrations, including a charming frontispiece showing elegantly dressed figures in a wooded setting.
The Morgan Library records this title as having been published in Paris in 1837, with 206 pages and four illustrated plates.
Era
1837
Early Victorian / French July Monarchy period.
Author
Mlle Élise Brun, identified on the title page as an institutrice, or female teacher/governess.
Publisher
P.-C. Lehuby
Librairie de l’Enfance et de la Jeunesse
Paris, France
A surviving institutional copy held by the Morgan Library is likewise catalogued as the 1837 Paris edition published by P.-C. Lehuby.
History
Les Charmes de l’Ermitage belongs to the early 19th-century tradition of moral and educational literature written specifically for young readers.
Its subtitle translates roughly as:
“Little histories and stories suitable for forming the heart and mind of youth.”
Books of this type were intended not merely to entertain children, but to cultivate good manners, morality, sentiment, and character through instructive stories.
What makes this example especially appealing is its survival in an unusually decorative binding. The elaborate gilt and colored cover decoration transforms what was originally an educational children’s book into a beautiful example of French Romantic-era book design.
Provenance
Sourced in France.
Materials
Paper
Printed and engraved illustrations
Decorative publisher’s boards
Pale green surface decoration
Extensive gilt embossing and tooling
Dimensions
Please provide the exact height, width, and thickness and I can insert them.
The Morgan Library’s copy is catalogued at approximately 15 cm / 5.9 inches tall.
Condition
Good antique condition considering the book is nearly 190 years old.
The binding shows expected edge and corner wear, rubbing, small losses, and some lifting or deterioration along the spine and joints. The gilt decoration remains remarkably attractive and legible.
Interior pages exhibit scattered foxing, toning, and age-related spotting. The engraved illustrations and title pages remain clear and attractive.
The binding appears intact overall, although care should be taken when opening due to its age.
Please review all photographs closely for condition.
Disclaimers
Antique books may exhibit foxing, toning, staining, loose or weakened hinges, edge wear, inscriptions, minor tears, binding deterioration, and other age-related characteristics. These are consistent with their age and history and should be expected.