This stunning French book features a beautiful and romantic binding known as a Cartonnage binding. It's cream and gilt, with striking floral rose decoration to the boards and spine. The front board has an inset colour illustration. The book was published in 1852 and features the story of Jacques Coeur - a French government official and state-sponsored merchant whose personal fortune reached legendary proportions.
These bindings have become popular over the past couple of years due to Instagram and you can't help but admire the incredible workmanship that has gone into the binding. They're little works of art.
The book is in good condition for it's age, but does show significant wear and crushing to the corners - the surface has peeled back to reveal the board beneath. The boards show light rubbing and marking, and there is some shelf wear to the board edges. The front board is slightly dulled compared to the back board. The spine is slightly darkened and sunned, and there is crushing to the spine ends which has caused some splitting.
Inside, there is age toning and foxing throughout, with occasional creasing to the paper in places. There are 6 illustration plates with their own tissue guards.
Dimensions approximately 19cm x 11.5cm x 2.2cm.
The book will arrive hand wrapped in patterned wallpaper and string. The bubble wrap I use is 100% biodegradable and the jiffy bags are recyclable.
Where possible, I use 100% recyclable paper tape, but sometimes I have to use clear plastic tape for extra strength.