1860s Imitation de Jésus-Christ | Noble Provenance, Clasps, & Gauffered Edges

Imitation de Jésus-Christ (The Imitation of Christ). Printed by Belin-Leprieur et Morizot, Paris, France. Published 1860s. French Language.

A stunning Gothic-Revival binding with diamond-lattice embossing across full brown leather cover, detailed double metal clasps with openwork scroll designs that carry an architectural look, mimicking the stone tracery window frames found in Gothic cathedrals.

All page edges are a vibrant red with gold-gilt gauffered Maltese crosses, endpapers marbled, gold dentelle work around interior turn-ins, colorful floral chromolithograph frontispiece, several engraved plates throughout. 

Romantic cartonnage binding in navy blue, gold, and grey. An elaborate design on the front and back covers comprised of dense floral garlands, symmetrical scrolls, and architectural volutes.

Bookseller's ticket is still inside the front cover. It marks where the book was originally purhcased: A. Poirier-Legros (a prominent 19th-century Catholic Bookstore and specialist religious bookbinder) in at Rue d'Orleans, 8, Nantes, France. 

There is a handwritten inscription that reads: 15 Juin 1862. Souvenir de 1ère Communion donné a notre fille Marie. Prie avec tout ton cœur pour ton père et ta mère Alphe. de Monti de Rezé E. de Monti de Rezé. Which translated, means: 

June 15th, 1862. Souvenir of First Communion given to our daughter Marie. Pray with all your heart for your father and your mother.
Alphonse de Monti de Rezé E. de Monti de Rezé

87 mm W x 130 mm H. 504 pages.

Condition: Some marks to the cover and spine, light rubbing to the corners, some discoloration to the cover, some foxing throughout. Excellent condition. 

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