1849 French Devotional Cartonnage Book

Antique French Cartonnage Devotional Book – Le Véritable Ami de l’Enfance

Paris, 1849

This exquisite French cartonnage book, titled Le Véritable Ami de l’Enfance (The True Friend of Childhood), was printed in Paris in 1849 by Imprimerie de Poussielgue, one of the most prolific Catholic publishers of the 19th century.

Bound in the highly collectible cartonnage style, this volume features a deep brown leather-like cover richly decorated in gilt and blind tooling. At its center, a delicate gilt floral medallion is framed by scrolling arabesques and ornamental borders — a hallmark of the decorative bindings of mid-19th century France. These cartonnage bindings were often presented as religious gifts for youth or students, cherished both for their devotional content and their beauty as keepsakes.

Inside, the text recounts the life and virtues of Jean-Baptiste de La Salle (1651–1719), founder of the Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes (Brothers of the Christian Schools), an influential Catholic teaching order. Declared venerable by Pope Gregory XVI and later canonized, La Salle remains the patron saint of teachers, making this book not only a devotional piece but also a tribute to the value of education and moral guidance in 19th-century France.

The volume opens with a finely engraved frontispiece portrait of La Salle at his desk, crucifix beside him — an image that reinforces the seriousness of its spiritual message. The pages, time-softened and foxed with age, carry the authentic patina of nearly two centuries of history.

Details

• Title: Le Véritable Ami de l’Enfance ou Abrégé de la Vie et des Vertus du vénérable serviteur de Dieu J. B. de La Salle
• Publisher: Paris, Imprimerie de Poussielgue
• Date: 1849
• Binding: Cartonnage with elaborate gilt and blind tooling, central gilt floral medallion
• Frontispiece: Engraved portrait of Jean-Baptiste de La Salle
• Condition: Beautifully preserved for its age, with patina and foxing to pages, slight wear to binding consistent with handling

Styling Notes

• Display as a decorative object on a writing desk, console, or under a cloche to highlight its gilt cartonnage binding.
• Pair with other devotional or educational antiques for a collected Old World vignette.
• A meaningful gift for teachers, scholars, or collectors of French devotional history.