Le bijou des Enfans. Pour l’année 1817.
Paris: chez Janet Libraire, [1816]
£ 900
A beautiful and tiny children’s miniature almanac (27 x 20 mm). In a dark green morocco binding, with a gilt wolf and geometric frame to boards and spine, some remains of gilt on edges, some rubbing of the gilt decorations, 64 pages, corners slightly creased. It contains a calendar with the important days of the year, the lyrics for eight different songs and a compilation of mottos. The tiny book is illustrated with eight intricate coloured engravings, one for each of the songs. It also contains short rhymes about love and romance for both boys and girls. These almanacs, usually gifted during the Christmas season of the previous year, were very popular objects for young ladies in the 19th century, particularly in France, where the most ornate miniature books originate.
Houghton 91 p.29; Welsh 1270.