Paroissien Elzevir Rite Romain. [PAROISSIEN].

Illustrated with 22 engravings and engraved initials

12mo. [160 x 80 x 30 mm]. [4]ff, 649, [2] pp. Contemporary binding by Gruel (signed in gilt at the foot of the spine) of red calf. The covers tooled in gilt with a wide dentelle border composed of scallop shells and a variety of fronds, flowers and star bursts. The spine divided into six panels by gilt tooled raised bands and gilt compartments with flowers and other small tools, the edges of the boards hatched in gilt, the turn-ins and matching inside joints tooled with gilt rolls, green watered silk endleaves and doublures, gilt edges gauffered with roses hand coloured in red and green. (Rebacked preserving original spine). In the original cardboard chemise and slip case. (Worn).

Paris: Gruel-Engelmann, 1901

Text block and free from inscriptions, a very good copy indeed.

The Gruel bindery had its origins in the atelier founded by Isidore Deforges in Paris in 1811. In 1825 Deforges handed over the business to his son-in-law, Pierre-Paul Gruel, who died in 1846. His son Léon had been born in 1840, and eventually took over the bindery, which in the interim was run by his mother and her second husband Jean Engelmann. Léon's son Paul was born in 1846 and for fifty years he presided over the shop in La Rue Saint-Honoré. In 1928 he received La croix de Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur, and he died in 1954.

Stock no. ebc9333