1823 "Annales de l'industrie nationale" book [French]

A leather book from 1823, back when the steam engine was still news. The tree-marbled boards are the color of brick, and the front cover is stamped in faded gold with a name: M. COSTE. Somebody had this bound for himself.

The spine is where it shines. Warm brown calf divided by gilt bands, with two panels of tiny gold cross-hatching, small gilt leaf sprigs, and the title and volume number stamped in gold — ANNALES DE L'INDUSTRIE, 9. The page edges are speckled bright orange.

Inside is Volume Nine of the Annales de l'Industrie Nationale et Étrangère, ou Mercure Technologique — a French technology journal edited by Louis-Sébastien Le Normand and J.-G.-V. de Moléon, printed in Paris by Bachelier in 1823 and dedicated to the King. It collected papers on manufacturing, trade, agriculture, and invention, with a motto from Colbert across the title page. Best of all, it folds out: engraved plates of early steam machines, including ancient automata and Hero's steam devices, drawn by the editors and engraved by Adam.

Rubbed at the spine ends, bumped at the corners, foxed here and there. It looks like what it is — a working book that somebody kept.

Dimensions: 8" H x 5" W

Medium: Letterpress on laid paper with engraved fold-out plates; tree-marbled boards, gilt-tooled calf spine, speckled orange edges

Age: 1823

Origin: Paris, France — Chez Bachelier, Libraire-Éditeur, Quai des Augustins, No. 55; printed at the Imprimerie de Fain, Place de l'Odéon

Signature/mark: None

Disclosures: Sold as-is in antique condition, over 200 years old; one volume only (Tome IX) — not a complete set; binding is sound but shows honest age: rubbing and small losses to the leather at the spine head and tail, wear along the joints, and bumped, rubbed corners with the board edges showing through; marbled boards are scuffed and faded in places; interior is clean and readable with scattered foxing and light toning throughout (see photos)