Antique French Red Leather Miniature Poetry Volume — Poésies Nouvelles (1836–1852) by Alfred de Musset, 1905
Antique French Red Leather Miniature Poetry Volume — Poésies Nouvelles (1836–1852) by Alfred de Musset, 1905
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A finely bound miniature French literary volume titled Poésies Nouvelles (1836–1852) by Alfred de Musset, published in Paris in 1905 by Petite Bibliothèque-Charpentier (Eugène Fasquelle, Éditeur).
The book is bound in red leather (likely morocco or calf) with a decoratively gilt-tooled spine featuring floral ornaments and gilt titling reading A. de Musset — Poésies. The boards are plain but elegantly framed with blind-tooled border lines.
Inside, the volume retains beautiful marbled endpapers in a classic French peacock-style pattern.
A handwritten inscription reads:
“Souvenir affectueux de la grippe — 1919 — M.V.” ("A fond remembrance of the influenza, 1919"). This is almost certainly a convalescence gift — someone either visited, cared for, or emotionally supported the recipient during the 1918–1919 Spanish Flu pandemic, and marked the recovery with this very book.
The page edges are gilt, and the binding remains structurally solid with attractive age patina to the leather.
This is a charming example of a Petite Bibliothèque-Charpentier literary edition, produced in small, elegant formats for personal libraries in the early 20th century.
A finely bound miniature French literary volume titled Poésies Nouvelles (1836–1852) by Alfred de Musset, published in Paris in 1905 by Petite Bibliothèque-Charpentier (Eugène Fasquelle, Éditeur).
The book is bound in red leather (likely morocco or calf) with a decoratively gilt-tooled spine featuring floral ornaments and gilt titling reading A. de Musset — Poésies. The boards are plain but elegantly framed with blind-tooled border lines.
Inside, the volume retains beautiful marbled endpapers in a classic French peacock-style pattern.
A handwritten inscription reads:
“Souvenir affectueux de la grippe — 1919 — M.V.” ("A fond remembrance of the influenza, 1919"). This is almost certainly a convalescence gift — someone either visited, cared for, or emotionally supported the recipient during the 1918–1919 Spanish Flu pandemic, and marked the recovery with this very book.
The page edges are gilt, and the binding remains structurally solid with attractive age patina to the leather.
This is a charming example of a Petite Bibliothèque-Charpentier literary edition, produced in small, elegant formats for personal libraries in the early 20th century.
Alfred de Musset (1810–1857) was one of the central figures of French Romantic literature, associated with writers such as Victor Hugo and George Sand. His poetry and plays were widely read throughout the 19th century and continued to be reprinted in refined small-format editions into the early 1900s.
The Petite Bibliothèque-Charpentier series was known for producing compact literary editions intended for cultured personal libraries. These volumes were often bound in leather with gilt decoration and marbled endpapers, balancing affordability with elegance.
Such miniature poetry volumes were popular as gift books and keepsake editions, particularly during the Belle Époque.
Alfred de Musset (1810–1857) was one of the central figures of French Romantic literature, associated with writers such as Victor Hugo and George Sand. His poetry and plays were widely read throughout the 19th century and continued to be reprinted in refined small-format editions into the early 1900s.
The Petite Bibliothèque-Charpentier series was known for producing compact literary editions intended for cultured personal libraries. These volumes were often bound in leather with gilt decoration and marbled endpapers, balancing affordability with elegance.
Such miniature poetry volumes were popular as gift books and keepsake editions, particularly during the Belle Époque.
Early 20th century (1905 publication; inscription dated 1919)
Early 20th century (1905 publication; inscription dated 1919)
Red leather binding (morocco or calf)
Gilt spine tooling and lettering
Marbled endpapers
Gilt page edges
Letterpress printing on paper
Steel-engraved portrait plate
Red leather binding (morocco or calf)
Gilt spine tooling and lettering
Marbled endpapers
Gilt page edges
Letterpress printing on paper
Steel-engraved portrait plate
France
France
Wear to leather at edges and corners consistent with age. Minor rubbing to spine and boards. Light age toning to pages. Inscription present on front endpaper. Binding remains structurally sound.
Wear to leather at edges and corners consistent with age. Minor rubbing to spine and boards. Light age toning to pages. Inscription present on front endpaper. Binding remains structurally sound.