Antique French Miniature Prayer Book, "Paroissien Romain," Embossed Leather with Cross, Brass Clasp and Gilt Edges, Lille, c. 1890s
Antique French Miniature Prayer Book, "Paroissien Romain," Embossed Leather with Cross, Brass Clasp and Gilt Edges, Lille, c. 1890s
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Item Title:
**Additional Description:** A small Roman Catholic missal in French, bound in dark purplish-black grained leather with a blind-embossed cross and stepped geometric border on the front cover and cross motifs on the spine. The spine is stamped "PAROISSIEN ROMAIN." The edges are gilt, and brass-edged covers close with a decorative brass clasp with a floral rosette design. The endpapers are burgundy paper printed with an all-over gilt fleur-de-lis pattern. The title page reads "Paroissien Romain contenant les Offices des Dimanches et des Principales Fêtes de l'Année, augmenté de la Messe de Communion," with the imprint "Librairie de l'Œuvre Saint-Charles-Borromée, 104 Rue de la Barre, Lille." Facing the title page is a color chromolithograph of the Sacred Heart of Jesus within a Gothic architectural frame. Pages have red-ruled borders, and there are small woodcut-style illustrations, including one at the "Prière du Matin." A pressed pansy or violet flower is tucked inside at the morning prayer. A ribbon or cord marker hangs from the bottom of the spine. Inside is a printed table of movable feasts ("Table du Temps et des Fêtes Mobiles") covering the years 1890-1900.
**Era:** Late 19th century, c. 1890-1900. The movable-feast table runs 1890-1900, which suggests publication around 1890. The book may have been printed slightly later than the first table year.
**History:** The "Paroissien" (parishioner's missal) was a popular format of French Catholic devotional book, giving the Sunday and feast-day offices in a small, portable size for lay worshippers. Books like this were commonly given as gifts for First Communion, confirmation, or weddings. This example was issued by the Librairie de l'Œuvre Saint-Charles-Borromée in Lille, a Catholic publishing house in northern France active in the later 19th century. Brass-mounted bindings with clasps and embossed leather covers were typical of the period and were often marketed as durable gift editions.
**Provenance:** Unknown. Please add any known ownership history, purchase location, or family information here. No inscription or owner's name was visible in the photos provided.
**Materials:** Grained leather (possibly a leather-grain cloth or paper-covered board, to be confirmed by hand) over boards, with blind-embossed decoration, brass cover edging and clasp, gilt page edges, gilt-patterned paper endpapers, and printed paper pages with red-ruled borders. A chromolithograph frontispiece is included.
**Dimensions:** Not provided. It appears to be roughly 4 x 2.75 x 1.25 in (10 x 7 x 3 cm), judging by the hand in the photos. Please measure to confirm before listing.
**Disclaimers / Condition:** Good antique condition with age-appropriate wear. The covers show rubbing, scuffs, and small losses to the grain at the edges and corners, with some lightening in a few spots on the front cover. The spine is worn at the head, with a small loss of leather and exposed fibers at the top. The brass edging has light tarnish and some wear to the gilt finish. The clasp is intact. The endpapers show light creasing and a crease near the gutter. The pages are generally clean, with light toning and foxing and faint marks at the margins. The chromolithograph is bright. A pressed flower is loose inside and is fragile. The text is in French, and the binding appears tight in the photos. The piece has not been collated page by page, and the descriptions are based on a visual assessment only. Please review all photos.
**Value:** Estimated retail value of $35-$90 USD. The clasp, gilt edges, chromolithograph frontispiece, and charming pressed flower support the upper end. The spine wear, cover rubbing, and the fact that these French missals were produced in large numbers hold it back. Check recent sold listings (eBay sold, Etsy) for comparable French "Paroissien Romain" prayer books with clasps and embossed covers before pricing. Collectors of miniature books and devotional ephemera may pay more for unusual bindings.
Item Title:
**Additional Description:** A small Roman Catholic missal in French, bound in dark purplish-black grained leather with a blind-embossed cross and stepped geometric border on the front cover and cross motifs on the spine. The spine is stamped "PAROISSIEN ROMAIN." The edges are gilt, and brass-edged covers close with a decorative brass clasp with a floral rosette design. The endpapers are burgundy paper printed with an all-over gilt fleur-de-lis pattern. The title page reads "Paroissien Romain contenant les Offices des Dimanches et des Principales Fêtes de l'Année, augmenté de la Messe de Communion," with the imprint "Librairie de l'Œuvre Saint-Charles-Borromée, 104 Rue de la Barre, Lille." Facing the title page is a color chromolithograph of the Sacred Heart of Jesus within a Gothic architectural frame. Pages have red-ruled borders, and there are small woodcut-style illustrations, including one at the "Prière du Matin." A pressed pansy or violet flower is tucked inside at the morning prayer. A ribbon or cord marker hangs from the bottom of the spine. Inside is a printed table of movable feasts ("Table du Temps et des Fêtes Mobiles") covering the years 1890-1900.
**Era:** Late 19th century, c. 1890-1900. The movable-feast table runs 1890-1900, which suggests publication around 1890. The book may have been printed slightly later than the first table year.
**History:** The "Paroissien" (parishioner's missal) was a popular format of French Catholic devotional book, giving the Sunday and feast-day offices in a small, portable size for lay worshippers. Books like this were commonly given as gifts for First Communion, confirmation, or weddings. This example was issued by the Librairie de l'Œuvre Saint-Charles-Borromée in Lille, a Catholic publishing house in northern France active in the later 19th century. Brass-mounted bindings with clasps and embossed leather covers were typical of the period and were often marketed as durable gift editions.
**Provenance:** Unknown. Please add any known ownership history, purchase location, or family information here. No inscription or owner's name was visible in the photos provided.
**Materials:** Grained leather (possibly a leather-grain cloth or paper-covered board, to be confirmed by hand) over boards, with blind-embossed decoration, brass cover edging and clasp, gilt page edges, gilt-patterned paper endpapers, and printed paper pages with red-ruled borders. A chromolithograph frontispiece is included.
**Dimensions:** Not provided. It appears to be roughly 4 x 2.75 x 1.25 in (10 x 7 x 3 cm), judging by the hand in the photos. Please measure to confirm before listing.
**Disclaimers / Condition:** Good antique condition with age-appropriate wear. The covers show rubbing, scuffs, and small losses to the grain at the edges and corners, with some lightening in a few spots on the front cover. The spine is worn at the head, with a small loss of leather and exposed fibers at the top. The brass edging has light tarnish and some wear to the gilt finish. The clasp is intact. The endpapers show light creasing and a crease near the gutter. The pages are generally clean, with light toning and foxing and faint marks at the margins. The chromolithograph is bright. A pressed flower is loose inside and is fragile. The text is in French, and the binding appears tight in the photos. The piece has not been collated page by page, and the descriptions are based on a visual assessment only. Please review all photos.
**Value:** Estimated retail value of $35-$90 USD. The clasp, gilt edges, chromolithograph frontispiece, and charming pressed flower support the upper end. The spine wear, cover rubbing, and the fact that these French missals were produced in large numbers hold it back. Check recent sold listings (eBay sold, Etsy) for comparable French "Paroissien Romain" prayer books with clasps and embossed covers before pricing. Collectors of miniature books and devotional ephemera may pay more for unusual bindings.