ANTIQUE 1845 Pierre Saintive Louis Veuillot French Novel Scarce Second Edition For Sale

Book Details
Pierre Saintive by Louis Veuillot (1813-1883) was published by Ad Mame Et Cie in 1845. Antique Second Edition.Author\'s Preface
In the author\'s preface, Louis explains that Pierre Saintive was written as a Christian novel. Rather than focusing on the dramatic adventures, duels, or sensational events that were popular in many novels of his day, he chose to focus on the inner struggles of faith, doubt, temptation, conscience, and character. He believed the greatest conflict in life is the battle a person wages within their own heart. This story was his attempt to bring that struggle to life through fiction.Author Background
Louis Veuillot was a controversial French journalist and Catholic author who rose from a poor background with little formal education to become one of the most influential religious voices in 19th-century France. He began in legal offices and provincial newspapers before moving into Paris journalism. After a pilgrimage to Rome during the late 1830s deepened his Catholic faith, his writing turned strongly toward religion, public life, and the role of the Catholic Church in France. He became the leading editor of L’Univers, one of the most widely read Catholic newspapers of the 19th century, and used that paper to argue fiercely for the authority of the Pope at a time when France was torn by political and religious conflict. His books, newspaper work, religious writing, political commentary, and later his collected letters made him one of the most visible and debated Catholic voices of his century.Story Outside The Story
Louis was married with children and lived a disciplined domestic life. Known for maintaining financial modesty despite his influence, he refused government positions in order to remain independent. That independence came with real cost. His aggressive religious and political positions brought controversy, duels, imprisonment, and repeated suppression of L’Univers, yet he remained central to Catholic intellectual life until his death in Paris in 1883. Louis\'s work was recognized at the highest level by Pope Pius IX, who explicitly acknowledged his service to the Catholic Church, even while noting his intense and controversial style.Collectible Notes
This antique second edition was issued during Louis Veuillot\'s lifetime and carries the higher-end presentation style used by Ad Mame et Cie for select works in the mid-1900s, elevating it well beyond standard cloth-bound copies that more commonly survive in the market. The full brown calfskin leather binding has gold gilt page edges, moiré silk endpapers and a hand-sewn text block. Book features engraved illustrations by noted French-Swiss artist Karl Girardet (1813-1871), whose artwork appeared in numerous French books and publications during the mid-nineteenth century. All illustrations are protected by intact tissue guards. Rigid boards and raised bands on the spine are decorated with elaborate gilt tooling, which was applied with heated tools and gold leaf to create the ornate frame and central panel. This type of decorative gilt work was standard on higher-quality bindings of the period. The title page includes a French quote from the Gospel of Matthew 11:29 that reads, “Take my yoke upon you, and you will find rest for your souls.” The last page carries the words Laus Deo which means \" Praise be to God.\" This book was sourced in person from El Rastro in Madrid, one of Europe’s oldest and most culturally significant open-air markets, with documented photographic provenance from the market (see pictures). Organic leaf fragments were also found preserved in the seam between pages 156-157, leaving a tree-like impression from its long placement inside the book, an authentic trace of the book’s history and use across generations.Condition
Very Good antique condition. Mid-19th century decorative calfskin leather binding with elaborate gilt tooling on both covers has wear around the edges and spine ends. Gold gilt stain on all page sides still gleam in the light. The Moiré silk endpapers have a satin-like, watermarked finish which was typically used in higher-quality 19th-century bindings with age-appropriate foxing. Hand-sewn binding is strong and fully intact. 376 pages are age-toned and clean from markups, creases, tears and stains. Pages show age-appropriate foxing typical of 19th-century paper caused by natural oxidation and material composition, with all text fully clear and unaffected. All black and white plates in the book are covered by tissue paper that are intact and well-preserved.Carefully packaged and shipped with care from our smoke-free home. Now available to readers and collectors around the world through International Shipping. Measures 8.25\" long, 5.25\" wide and 1\" deep. Weighs 1 lb. 1.5 oz.