French Gilt-Edged Leather Devotional Book — L’Imitation de Jésus-Christ, Alfred Mame, Tours (1883)
French Gilt-Edged Leather Devotional Book — L’Imitation de Jésus-Christ, Alfred Mame, Tours (1883)
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Additional Description:
A finely bound 19th-century French Catholic devotional book titled L’Imitation de Jésus-Christ, published in Tours in 1883 by Alfred Mame et Fils, one of the most important religious publishers in France during the 19th century.
The volume is bound in brown leather with gilt tooling to the spine, featuring raised bands and fleur-de-lis decorative motifs. The covers are decorated with elegant gilt-ruled panels, including a striking geometric panel design with blue-toned inlay panels filled with repeating gilt fleur-de-lis ornaments.
The text block retains bright gilt edges, and the interior is richly printed with ornamental religious illustrations, including full-page devotional engravings and decorative borders. The book includes a printed frontispiece illustration of the Holy Trinity and additional devotional imagery throughout.
The interior doublures feature silk moiré endpapers framed by an elaborate gilt dentelle border, reflecting the high-quality presentation bindings produced by Alfred Mame for devotional use and gift-giving in the late 19th century.
A devotional card depicting the Apparition of Notre-Dame de Lourdes to Saint Bernadette is preserved inside the volume.
The book retains its original ribbon marker.
Era:
Late 19th century (1883)
French Catholic devotional binding
History:
The Imitation of Christ (originally written in the 15th century and attributed to Thomas à Kempis) is one of the most widely read Christian devotional texts in history. By the 19th century, French publishers such as Alfred Mame specialized in producing finely bound editions intended for personal devotion, First Communion gifts, and religious presentation copies.
Alfred Mame et Fils of Tours was internationally known for producing high-quality Catholic books featuring elaborate bindings, gilt decoration, engraved illustrations, and silk endpapers. Their devotional books remain highly collectible today for both their craftsmanship and religious significance.
The fleur-de-lis decorative motifs reflect traditional French Catholic symbolism and were commonly used in religious bindings produced in Tours during this period.
Provenance:
France
Materials:
Leather binding
Gilt tooling and decoration
Silk moiré endpapers
Paper text block with gilt edges
Ribbon bookmark
Printed devotional engravings
Dimensions:
[leave blank]
Disclaimers:
Light wear to leather binding consistent with age.
Minor rubbing to corners and spine edges.
Interior remains clean and structurally sound.
Devotional card shows age-related spotting.
Additional Description:
A finely bound 19th-century French Catholic devotional book titled L’Imitation de Jésus-Christ, published in Tours in 1883 by Alfred Mame et Fils, one of the most important religious publishers in France during the 19th century.
The volume is bound in brown leather with gilt tooling to the spine, featuring raised bands and fleur-de-lis decorative motifs. The covers are decorated with elegant gilt-ruled panels, including a striking geometric panel design with blue-toned inlay panels filled with repeating gilt fleur-de-lis ornaments.
The text block retains bright gilt edges, and the interior is richly printed with ornamental religious illustrations, including full-page devotional engravings and decorative borders. The book includes a printed frontispiece illustration of the Holy Trinity and additional devotional imagery throughout.
The interior doublures feature silk moiré endpapers framed by an elaborate gilt dentelle border, reflecting the high-quality presentation bindings produced by Alfred Mame for devotional use and gift-giving in the late 19th century.
A devotional card depicting the Apparition of Notre-Dame de Lourdes to Saint Bernadette is preserved inside the volume.
The book retains its original ribbon marker.
Era:
Late 19th century (1883)
French Catholic devotional binding
History:
The Imitation of Christ (originally written in the 15th century and attributed to Thomas à Kempis) is one of the most widely read Christian devotional texts in history. By the 19th century, French publishers such as Alfred Mame specialized in producing finely bound editions intended for personal devotion, First Communion gifts, and religious presentation copies.
Alfred Mame et Fils of Tours was internationally known for producing high-quality Catholic books featuring elaborate bindings, gilt decoration, engraved illustrations, and silk endpapers. Their devotional books remain highly collectible today for both their craftsmanship and religious significance.
The fleur-de-lis decorative motifs reflect traditional French Catholic symbolism and were commonly used in religious bindings produced in Tours during this period.
Provenance:
France
Materials:
Leather binding
Gilt tooling and decoration
Silk moiré endpapers
Paper text block with gilt edges
Ribbon bookmark
Printed devotional engravings
Dimensions:
[leave blank]
Disclaimers:
Light wear to leather binding consistent with age.
Minor rubbing to corners and spine edges.
Interior remains clean and structurally sound.
Devotional card shows age-related spotting.