1815 Miniature French Songbook - Le Petit Malin de 1815, ou Jolies Chansons

This rare miniature French book, titled Le Petit Malin de 1815 ou Jolies Chansons (“The Little Clever One of 1815, or Pretty Songs”), is a charming glimpse into the world of early 19th-century Parisian popular culture. Published in Paris in 1815, the same year as the fall of Napoleon and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, it captures the spirit of its era in pocket-sized form.

Bound in its original leather binding with gilt tooling, the book fits neatly in the palm of a hand — a true miniature, designed for portability and delight. Inside, it presents a collection of French chansons (songs) accompanied by engraved illustrations. These lively songs, often witty or playful in nature, were part of the social fabric of post-Revolutionary France, sung in salons, taverns, and gatherings.

The engravings add a particularly enchanting touch: finely detailed images of romantic, pastoral, and sometimes humorous scenes that bring the verses to life. Owning a book like this would have been a fashionable novelty — a conversation piece as much as a keepsake.

Nearly 210 years later, this miniature still exudes its charm, both as a piece of book history and as a decorative collectible.

Details

• Title: Le Petit Malin de 1815 ou Jolies Chansons
• Date & Place: Paris, 1815
• Binding: Original gilt-tooled leather binding
• Illustrations: Multiple engraved plates accompanying text
• Size: Miniature format, designed as a pocket book
• Condition: Binding worn with age; interior foxing and patina consistent with its 200+ years, engravings remain crisp and evocative

Styling Notes

• Display under a cloche or in a miniature easel to highlight its jewel-like presence.
• Perfect as part of a vignette of smalls alongside keys, snuff boxes, or wax seals.
• A prized collector’s piece for lovers of rare books, French history, or the art of the miniature.