Charming example of shellwork binding on a devotional book from 1858.

Publisher's binding, with exceptionnally added contemporary shellwork panel including more than 200 miniature shell to each board, blue cloth spine elaborately decorated with gilt pink and blue gauffered motifs, all edges gilt, inner gilt dentelle; a few shells lost, a little rubbed at corners and spine-ends.

Although shell motifs frequently appear gilt-stamped on bindings, no binding entirely covered with actual shells is recorded in the major databases (BL Database of Bookbindings or Reliures BnF).

The production of these bindings was extremely limited, and they are found only on works bearing the title "paroissien" [prayer books]. This copy, one of the finest examples, features five shell-formed flower motifs on the upper cover and two palm branches on the lower cover, each surrounded by a multitude of small shells glued onto a rose-colored ground.

Rare shell mosaic binding in high relief.