Discover a captivating piece of 19th-century French religious history with this authentic 1813 edition of Le Propre des Saints de l'Église Cathédrale de Montpellier (The Proper of the Saints of the Cathedral Church of Montpellier).
Printed locally in Montpellier by the prominent printer André Tournel, Aîné (rue de l'Aiguillerie, n.° 43), this substantial 376-page volume serves as a regional handbook detailing the specific prayers, liturgies, and meditations dedicated to the saints celebrated in that local diocese. This specific "Nouvelle Édition" includes expanded offices for St. Vincent de Paul, St. Éloi, S.te Sigolene, and S.te Françoise Fremiot de Chantal.
The book features its original, highly collectible "pulled paste paper" (papier marbré à la colle) cover. This traditional European technique involved pressing two wet, pigment-and-starch-coated sheets together and pulling them apart to create the beautiful, organic, multi-directional vein-like pattern seen here.
Measuring approximately 4.5" x 7.5", this pocket-sized duodecimo handbook was designed for personal portability, allowing its early 19th-century owner to easily carry it to daily services.
From the specific regional saints to the exact street address of the French printer, this volume is an exceptional artifact of post-Revolutionary French provincial printing history.
This antique volume is in honest, unrestored condition. The paste paper cover shows heavy, authentic wear, scuffing, and bumped corners consistent with its age and frequent use as a personal devotional tool. The spine and corners show structural wear, but the binding remains intact. The internal text block remains securely attached, featuring beautiful early 19th-century typography on period rag paper.
Perfect for collectors of rare religious texts, historical French print ephemera, or as a striking styling piece for a curation of antiquities.
Specifications:
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Year: 1813
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Language: French
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Page Count: 376 pages
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Dimensions: 4.5" x 7.5" (Duodecimo / 12mo)
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Place of Publication: Montpellier, France
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Printer: André Tournel, Aîné
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