Cartonnages romantiques: mass production of French school prize books

 

@14062026

Cartonnages romantiques: mass production of  French school prize books

Background

The creation of a system in France, to give school children a book as prize created a market in which enterprising publishers could achieve mass production.

As we can see from images and descriptions available online, the scale of the factories was very large. One of the book production factories was developed by Alfred Mame.

 Details of Alfred Mame from:  https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=3564

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Alfred-Henri-Amand_Mame   

Obituary of Mame: https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/alfred-henri-amand-mame  

 

‘The distribution of prizes was an important event in school life where the child was rewarded in front of an assembly of teachers, students and parents. It took place late at the end of July or August. The book then had an ex-praemio, a handwritten inscription or pre-printed label, stuck inside the book, with the identity of the student, the subject for which he or she was awarded, the name of the institution, etc. While some labels were simple, others were decorated with decorative engravings...

‘The gift book was given to children or adults on the occasion of New Year's gifts, first communion, weddings or simply as a gift. It was primarily intended to be shown, and its cover has often "faded" over time…

‘The most renowned [publisher/ printer/ binder] was Mame in Tours, an exceptionally large company. The modern design of its workshops, efficient work organization, and progressive social policies made it a model enterprise. In 1855, it employed nearly 1,500 workers and bound between 10,000 and 15,000 volumes daily. Other publishing houses, such as Ardant and Barbou in Limoges, Mégard in Rouen, and Lefort in Lille, had a less extensive production. The marketing of the books, known as publisher's bindings, was done through catalogues that grouped the titles by theme and by collection, and always included the approval of a religious authority guaranteeing morality.’

Text above copied from: https://www.bm-lyon.fr/expo/08/cartonnagesromantiques/parcours.html

 

Image copied from:  https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Mame#/media/Fichier:Presse_%C3%A0_balancier.jpg  

Image copied from:

https://www.bm-lyon.fr/expo/08/cartonnagesromantiques/parcours.html

 

The BL has other examples of bindings by A. Mame at shelfmarks: C109.aaa.3. C.109.a.9. C.109.aaa5. C.129.c.10.  C109.e.4.

 

In 2025, Michael Twyman’s collection of cartonnages romantiques was donated to the British Library. With the gift came his listing for each book, and his summary:

“Cartonnages romantiques. 192 French volumes issued between the 1830s and 1880s, mainly in the provinces, almost all for the school market. Many were offered in bulk at reduced prices as prizes to be awarded at the annual ‘Distribution solennelle des prix’. Perhaps as many as half still have their manuscript or printed prize label, and many more show traces of such labels. Though cheaply produced, these books were attractively packaged to appeal to children. All but a few of those listed have paper-covered boards, with blind or gold embossing and/or colour printing on a variety of coloured papers. From the middle of the century many also have pictorial insets, either hand-coloured or chromolithographed. Texts had to be approved by the local bishop or archbishop and the books often carried his signature and a statement of authentication. The major publishers (Ardant, Barbou, Lefort, Lehuby, Mégard, Mame, etc.) issued such books in series with Christian and/or moralising titles, and in several standard formats: 8o, 12mo, 18mo, as well as some in different sizes of octavo. A dozen or so of those listed include a publisher’s list.

Included (for purposes of comparison) are a few other French prize books, either leather- bound or cased in cloth, the latter being as common as those with paper-covered boards, but otherwise very similar in content and design.”

Online access to record descriptions and images for each cartonnage/ book in wiki commons

 The descriptions compiled by Twyman, together with images for each book, have been placed on Wikimedia commons. They can be viewed together at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Formerly_Michael_Twyman_Collection

A click on any thumbnail image brings up the full details. Alternatively, searching for a shelf mark in the wiki search box, e.g. Twy22 or Twy67, will also display details for an individual book. Many volumes have a title page proper; often there is also an engraved title page and frontispiece illustration, juxtaposed. These latter two are frequently separated by tracing paper, to offset the staining effect of ink upon each. When taking images, no attempt was made to remove these. Nearly all the books have an engraved frontispiece. Many have a printed prize label, with handwritten details also. Some have evidence of the removal of the prize label. Some have a manuscript prize label. Many books have good, fresh, white paper. Some have paper that is foxed, of poorer quality. Many books have the publisher’s armorial/ device on the title page. Appendix A gives more details of these.

The cover decoration is often elaborate, frequently memorable for the complexity of patterns. Also distinctive is the use of coloured scenes on paper, inset into the centre of the upper cover.  Bindings are often dyed paper drawn over boards. The dyed paper could also be grained. For those books whose spines are now visible, sewing was normally within two sawn-in cords, plus kettle stitches at head and tail; with cases attached to the cords E.g. Twy156.

Counting the number of books produced by the larger publishers, we have: Martial Ardant Freres/ Eugene Ardant 28 books; Barbou 17 books.; Lefort 30 books; Lehuby 11 books; Mame  59 books;  Megard 18 books Pornin 4 books. The intention of the texts of these books as (school) prizes was religious/ moral education. The approval: “Avec Approbation” is printed often on endpapers e.g.Twy179 .

Mame as a publisher and proprietor was to take control of the production supply chain for paper, boards, sewing, case production and binding (and presumably distribution)- achieving full vertical integration. A parallel example in England was Edward Lloyd, the owner of Lloyds Weekly Newspaper. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Lloyd_(publisher)  The prize labels were mostly pasted onto the upper pastedown. Some have ornate border decoration, with ecclesiastical motifs.  The name of the lithographer or the printer is included on several labels.

The  appendices are:   

 

Appendix A     Publishers’ armorial/ devices

Appendix B     Publishers’ series

Appendix C     Bookseller tickets/ stamps

Appendix D    Prize labels

Appendix E   Engraved title  pages

Appendix F books with good / poor paper

Appendix G Central vignettes inset on upper covers

Appendix H Miscelleanous

 

To view the item listed, enter the Twy[[number] into the wiki commons search box.

 

Appendix A    Devices/ armorials of publishers on title pages

Ardant - the device of Ardant on the title page:

E. A.F. Eugene Ardant Freres Twy12

E. A. Twy11

Martial Ardant Freres, ‘M. A. F. omnibus ardens’ starburst Twy17

Barbou most of the title pages have their device – Twy28 to Twy45

Adrien Le Clere – Twy64

Lehuby. Cartouche armorial device of P. – C. L. (Paul – C. Lehuby) Twy104 and Twy105

Lehuby - ‘Mannerist’ tableau with youthful figures Twy 100, 103, 104, 108,

Alfred Mame/ Mame , Tours, nos.  Twy 109 et seq. (3 or 4 different devices…) ‘armorial’ devices, printed on title pages, ‘A F’ on centre:

Twy110; Twy117; Twy120; Twy129; Twy130; Twy145; Twy156; – ‘cartouche’

Twy111 ; Twy114; Twy115; Twy116; Twy119; Twy121; Twy127;  Twy134; Twy137; Twy138; Twy139; Twy140; Twy141; Twy142;  Twy145; Twy146; Twy147; Twy158; Twy163(variant?) – ‘shield shape’

Twy112 ; Twy113; Twy118;  Twy123; Twy154 – ‘initials within  a ‘rectangle’

Twy128 – ‘bolt and strap’ design

Twy131; Twy133;  Twy136; Twy150; Twy157; TWY162; Twy164 - ‘rectangle and two dogs heads’

Twy143; Twy144; Twy152; Twy159 –‘circle, beads and bolts’

Twy148; Twy161– ‘Castle tower’ motif

Megard device

Twy166; Twy167; Twy168; Twy169; Twy170; Twy171; Twy173; Twy174; Twy175; Twy176;  Twy177; Twy178; Twy179; Twy182 – ‘cartouche with beaded border and (mirror) holder’

Twy190 – Thibaut-Landriot – featuring a book press, two bound books, a parchment roll, all surrounded by leaves

Twy191 – E. Vimont – ‘cartouche, within oval holder’ same as Megard, apart from initials

Appendix B. Publisher’s series

Bibliotheque de la jeunesse chretienne (several have lists of books published, e.g. Twy30) 

Twy11; also  Tw2; Twy12; Twy30; Twy117; Twy128; Twy129; Twy140; Twy145; Twy147; Twy152;

Bibliotheque de l’ecole et du foyer – Twy5

Bibliotheque des enfants – Twy6 – Ardant

Bibliotheque Chretienne et morale – Twy34, Twy35

Bibliotheque historique et morale – Twy76

Bibliotheque de Lille – Twy76

Bibliotheque historique et edifiante - Twy184; Twy185;

Bibliotheque instructive et edifiante – Twy76

Livrets d’Encouragement au travail et a la vertu – Twy76

Bibliotheque des ecoles chretiennes – Twy156

Bibliothèque choisie de la jeunesse. Paris: F. Cantel, Librairie – Twy162; Twy173;

Bibliotheque morale de la jeunesse (mostly Megard)– Twy169; Twy175; Twy176; Twy177; Twy178; Twy179; Twy180; Twy182;

Gymnase moral d’education – Twy187 - Pornin

Librairie d’education et de jurisprudence – Twy193

 

Appendix C    Bookseller tickets/ stamps

These are pasted mostly on the upper pastedown.

-          Twy 22; Twy159; “/ Dugas-Lecomte / Imp(rimeri)e. Libraire,/ a Pont Audemer./”

-          Twy64 “/ Libraire/ de/ A. van Hoostraten et Fils/ Plaat I, No.12/ A La Haije./”

-          Twy76 Bookseller stamp on title page: / Delos a Caen/ Imprimerie Librairie/ Rue Ntre Dame Cour de la Monnaie

-          Twy 107 – Bouquot a Troyes

-          Twy131 – Lamontagne

-          Twy107 Bouquot

-          Twy121 S. D. Jeffs, Brighton; octagon, emerald green paper

-          Twy140 - “/ Se trouve/ chez Chaumas-Guyet/ Libraire./ Fosses du Chpeau-Rouge, 34/ Bordeaux./”

-          Twy161 on upper endpaper - “/ Imprimerie, Librairie, Relieur/ A. Florentin Aine/ Place du Marche/ Marennes/”

-          Twy163 – “/ Imprimerie, Librairie, Papeterie, Lithographie/ Ch. Gallot, / 17 R. Croix de Pierre,/ a Auxerre./”

-          Twy177 “/ Ach. Chairou Comp./ A Agen,/ Librairie, Papeterie,/ Fournitures de Bureaux. Chemins de Croix, Depot de Musique./”

-          Twy185 Circular stamp on the title page showing a cross pattee, and the lettering: ‘Patronage Notre-Dame Valenciennes’

-          Twy194; Twy195  ‘College Royal de Pamiers’ blocked in gold within an oval on centre of each cover, together with crown and laurel wreath

Use of book as a school prize, some 10 years after publication – Twy58

Appendix D prize labels

Printed: mostly pasted on upper p/d - Twy4, twy9; Twy10; Twy13; Twy30; Twy140; Twy161; Twy163; Twy177(ornate borders) “Martial Ardent Freres a Limoges”

Twy177 “Librairie des bons livres”

Twy178 - lithographed prize label, 1854, entitled: “Pensionnat des Dames de la Presentation a Castres (Tarn)”.

Twy180 –‘ Etablissment des Soeurs de la Charite et Instruction Chretienne de Nevers’ 

Twy182 - lithographed prize label printed by Soulé & Barbière, Toulouse, 1881.

Manuscript labels :

– Twy14 - Vie de Sainte Therese - has the prize details in manuscript on upper endpaper; Twy38; Twy89; Twy128; Twy135; Twy147; Twy153 (good example); Twy183 inscription not a prize

 

 Appendix E  Engraved title pages

-           Not every book has an engraved title page; they are mostly vignettes, with decorative lettering

-           Twy100 an oval frame , a ‘mannerist’ tableau, title within; on the perimeter, there are well dressed young people men and ladies are seated on the borders of the tableau

-           Twy103 and Twy104 have the same tableau engraved title page

-           Twy108

-           Twy126 – church choir stall and canopies.

Appendix F books with good/ poor paper

‘Mame was also one of the principal owners of the paper-mills of La Haye-Descartes’

From: https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/alfred-henri-amand-mame

Volumes with good, fresh paper:

Twy105, Twy109 Carver, Mame, 1846, 2^nd ed.; Twy111- Carver 1865, 8^th ed; Twy122, Mame 1844; Twy130 Clovis; Twy140 Gilbert, Mame 1846; Twy142 Turenne, Mame 1868; Twy144 Anecdotes; Twy145 Charles V; Twy146 Saint Francois; Twy147 Saint Francois; Twy153; Twy156; Twy159; Twy160; Twy162; Twy170; Twy184; Twy192

Fair/ Poor paper:

Twy110 Carver, Mame, 5^th ed., 1852; foxed; Twy143 Charles V 1845;

Detached board/ case from text block

Twy143 – lower cover detached;

Twy148; Twy149; Twy154; Twy156; Twy172 (foxing on edges) – foxed paper

Twy185 -foxing on title page

Appendix G Central vignettes on upper covers – mostly insets/  onlays /

Twy21 Man standing in front of a globe, mounted in a cradle

Also: 5, 8, 17, 9, 1, 14, 6

Twy151 title page central vignette shows religious and military equipment

Twy194 and Twy195  lettering within central oval blocked on both covers: ‘College Royal de Pamiers’

Appendix H  MISCELLANEOUS

Twy23 ‘Le chat botte’ has four tinted lithographs

Twy151 ‘Croisades…’  has silver ribbed paper over covers.

Twy160 text sewn on three sawn-in cords

Twy163 Ch. Gallot printed the prize label, and also his ticket on the upper pastedown

Twy164 the title’ Institution de Mlle Dericquehem’ is blocked in gold on the upper cover

Twy164 Marbled endpapers and pastedowns

Twy175; Twy176 ; Twy179 Approval by Cardinal-Archbishop of Rouen

Twy186 – marbled endpapers, pastedowns, and edges

Twy193 prize label dated 1849, is used some thirty years after publication of the work in 1815.

Twy194 – probably stereotyped by  ‘Senlis: Imprimerie stereotype de Tremblay.’

Twy195 marbled endpaper and pastedowns

[ends]

 

Edmund M B King

St Albans

June 2026