19th c Cartonnage Book Set of 3

Mid-19th Century French Cartonnage Gift Books with Decorative Bindings

approx. 3 ½” x 5 ¾”, 3 ½” x 6”, and 7 ⅜” x 4 ½”

This set of three French books, dating from the 1830s–1850s, is an excellent example of cartonnage bindings, the richly decorated paper-over-board style that flourished in France during the Romantic period. Designed to be both affordable and highly ornamental, cartonnage books were popular as gift volumes and displayed prominently in bourgeois interiors.

• Antonio ou l’Orphelin de Florence (Tours, 1853): green gilt cartonnage binding with an inset hand-colored vignette, illustrated with engraved plates.
• Voyage à Hippone (Lille, 1833): embossed cartonnage with gilt and silver highlights, containing engraved illustrations of travel and missionary life.
• Gymnase Moral d’Éducation: cartonnage binding with intricate gilt ornament, a moral and educational work reflecting Catholic pedagogy of the era.

The covers feature elaborate tooling, geometric and floral motifs, and in one case a hand-colored inset, hallmarks of the decorative artistry of French cartonnage. Their petite formats add to their charm, making them perfect for stacking or display alongside other 19th-century bindings.

Condition: Wear consistent with age, including edge rubbing, foxing, and small spine losses, but with strong decorative appeal intact.