Antique French Almanach, Le Mérite des Femmes by Charles Malo, Janet, Paris, with Original Case

Le Mérite des Femmes, "The Merit of Women," by Charles Malo. It's a small literary almanac published in Paris by Janet, the house that made these keepsakes the fashionable New Year's gift of the early nineteenth century. The title alone makes a strong case for giving it to someone.

It's bound in sky-blue boards with a gilt border of trailing vine leaves and grapes. Inside, the engraved title page shows a young woman guiding an elderly man along a rocky path, the sort of dutiful devotion the title promises. Bound in at the back is a fold-out Calendrier Portatif, engraved with the saints' days for each month and framed with little hunting scenes of horses, riders, and hounds.

It comes in its original case, which is unusual for something so small and so easily separated from its packaging. It's an excellent example: crisp, bright, and clearly kept with care.

Details

• Title: Le Mérite des Femmes
• Author: Charles Malo
• Publisher: Janet, Libraire, Rue St. Jacques No. 59, Paris
• Date: Early 19th century
• Language: French
• Engraved title page with vignette; fold-out engraved calendar
• Binding: Blue boards with gilt vine-leaf border
• Includes original case
• Dimensions: 4.5" × 3.75"
• Condition: Excellent antique condition, with light foxing to a few pages consistent with age