Antique French Book – Les Trois Sœurs ou La Piété Filiale (1868)
By C. Fallet | Published in Rouen by Mégard et Cie
A rare and beautifully preserved French moral tale from the 19th century, Les Trois Sœurs ou La Piété Filiale (“The Three Sisters or Filial Piety”) was published in 1868 as part of the Bibliothèque Morale de la Jeunesse, a collection of stories designed to educate and inspire young readers through virtue and devotion.
Bound in an exquisite embossed terra cotta cloth with ornate gilt detailing and titled Cours de Mme Gruntgens, this volume was likely awarded as a prize book, a common practice in French schools of the era. The handwritten inscription on the front endpaper, dated July 29, 1869, adds a charming layer of provenance—awarded to a young student named Louise Creusson for her excellence in ancient history.
Inside, a delicate frontispiece engraving illustrates a refined domestic scene in keeping with the story’s moral theme. The interior pages are in beautiful condition for their age, showing gentle foxing throughout—a testament to its 150+ years of history.
