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Curiosa

Jean Lacroix de Marlès - Histoire de Pologne (Alfred Mame et Fils, Tours, 1876)

Front cover, title page, and spine of Histoire de Pologne by M. de Marlès, published in Tours by Alfred Mame et Fils in 1876. - view 1
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Estimated value

$20 - $50

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Category

Books

Brand

Alfred Mame et Fils

Era

1876

Origin

France

Artist / Creator

Jean Lacroix de Marlès

Authenticity

Very High(90%)
2

JEAN LACROIX DE MARLÈS - HISTOIRE DE POLOGNE (ALFRED MAME ET FILS, TOURS, 1876): IDENTIFICATION

An octavo volume of 'Histoire de Pologne' by Jean Lacroix de Marlès, issued in 1876 as a 'nouvelle édition revue et corrigée' by Alfred Mame et Fils in Tours. The volume is bound in publisher's red textured percaline cloth, stamped in black ink and gold gilt with an ornate central strapwork cartouche on the upper board and a gilt-lettered, decorated spine. The frontispiece features a monochrome engraved historical scene facing the typographic title page with Mame's armorial publisher device.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Victorian Britain1870-1890

British publishers such as Blackie & Son and George Routledge produced identical gilt-embossed cloth prize bindings for school distributions during the 1870s and 1880s.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Annual French distribution des prix ceremonies, in which municipal and Catholic schools awarded stamped publisher-bound volumes to students at academic year-end.

Meaning Through Time

Late 19th Century

Served as a pedagogical tool of civic morality and academic achievement for French youth.

21st Century

Sought by collectors of Polonica, nineteenth-century decorative trade bindings, and provincial French publishing history.

EDITION & PUBLISHING HISTORY

Alfred Mame et Fils established a major steam-powered printing and publishing plant in Tours during the 19th century, producing millions of prize books ('livres de prix') under series such as the Bibliothèque de la jeunesse chrétienne. Marlès, who compiled numerous educational histories between ...
Alfred Mame et Fils established a major steam-powered printing and publishing plant in Tours during the 19th century, producing millions of prize books ('livres de prix') under series such as the Bibliothèque de la jeunesse chrétienne. Marlès, who compiled numerous educational histories between 1820 and 1850, was frequently reissued by Mame throughout the Third Republic to supply Catholic academies and municipal schools.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

Alfred Mame's printing facility in Tours employed over 1,000 workers in the 1870s and won a Grand Prix at the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle for its integrated manufacturing process.

2

Marlès published his first comprehensive edition on Polish history in Paris in 1831, timed directly to public French interest following the November Uprising of 1830.

SCARCITY

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

    How does authenticity detection work?

    BIBLIOPHILE'S ASSESSMENT

    Rare Book Dealer & Bibliographer

    Bibliographer

    High confidence based on clear visibility of the title page, author attribution, publisher imprint, and standard Mame trade binding characteristics.

    CONDITION & GRADE

    Fair

    Grading breakdown

    Graded Fair under ABAA standards due to fabric loss at spine terminals, bumped corners, board exposure, and persistent foxing across visible preliminary leaves.

    Condition

    The red cloth shows edge wear, corner softening with exposed board core at the corners, and cloth loss at the head and tail of the spine. The title page and engraved frontispiece display moderate foxing and oxidation spotting along the margins, though the text block appears intact.

    BOOK MARKET VALUATION

    $20 - $50

    Updated: Oct 16, 2026

    • Market comparables from auctions & retail
    • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
    • Current collector demand & trends
    • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

    For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

    YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN

    How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

    What Aligned

    • User identified author M. de Marlès, publisher location France, and date 1876, matching the title page typography and Tours imprint.
    • User reported damage to the binding, which aligns with visible cloth splitting, fraying at spine tips, and board edge abrasions.

    FROM THE CABINET OF

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