1882 Adrien Sylvain Livre de Piété de la Jeune Fille

Sir Adrien Sylvain's Le Livre de Piété de la Jeune Fille, the 632nd printing issued in 1882 by Aubanel Frères of Avignon, the family house that held the Vatican title of Sole Printer to His Holiness the Pope from 1780. Bound in honey-toned calf with feathered grain, gilt and black tooled borders, and all-edges gilt with intricate floral roll work along the fore edge. The spine carries five raised bands, gilt fleurons, and a personal owner's monogram, E. B., stamped at the foot. A woven silk place ribbon and a gilt metal leaf bookmark are both intact. The frontispiece is a sepia photogravure of La Cène by Étienne Azambre, followed by a facsimile of a personal handwritten benediction from Pope Pius IX dated 23 April 1873. Almost certainly a First Communion or confirmation presentation copy, and one of the small jewel-like volumes that reads beautifully on a bedside stack or a styled shelf.

[d]Author | Mgr Adrien Sylvain (published anonymously)

[d]Title | Le Livre de Piété de la Jeune Fille au Pensionnat et dans sa Famille

[d]Publisher | Aubanel Frères, Avignon

[d]Date | 1882

[d]Edition | 632nd printing

[d]Binding | Honey calf with gilt and black tooled borders, all-edges gilt, five raised bands

[d]Pages | 847

[d]Illustrator | Étienne Azambre (frontispiece)

[d]Dimensions | Small octavo devotional format

[d]Inscription | Owner's gilt monogram E. B. at spine foot

[d]Language | French

[d]Origin | France

[condition]

The binding is in very good antique condition. The honey calf is supple and intact across both boards and the spine, with the gilt tooling and pearled rules remaining clear and well defined. Light handling rub is visible at the corners and along the joints, consistent with age and use, but the boards are firm and the joints are sound. The spine retains its full gilt lettering and ornamentation. All edges are gilt with intricate floral roll work along the fore edge. The marbled endpapers and gilt inner dentelle are well preserved.

Internally the text block is clean and tightly bound, with the woven silk place ribbon and the gilt metal leaf bookmark both intact and attached. The frontispiece, papal benediction facsimile, title page, and approbations leaves are all present and in good condition. Light age toning to the paper as expected for a book of this age. No significant foxing, no inscriptions on the flyleaves, and the binding shows no restoration. Complete at 847 pages.