Histoire de Jesus-Christ Bourassé 1890 Illustrated French Religious Book
Title & Bibliographic Details
Title: Histoire de Jésus-Christ d'après les Évangiles et la Tradition
(History of Jesus Christ According to the Gospels and Tradition)Author: Abbé J.-J. Bourassé
Publisher: Alfred Mame et Fils, Tours
Date: 1890
Printer: Imprimerie Mame, Tours
Language: French
A substantial and beautifully illustrated late nineteenth-century French Catholic devotional and historical work by Abbé Jean-Jacques Bourassé, richly illustrated throughout and presented in an exceptionally decorative publisher’s binding.
The work recounts the life of Jesus Christ according to the Gospels and Church tradition, supported by ecclesiastical commentary, descriptions of Biblical locations, and historical interpretation.
Historical & Bibliographic Context
Abbé Bourassé’s work was intended as both an educational and devotional text, combining Biblical narrative with historical scholarship accessible to ordinary Catholic readers.
The lengthy ecclesiastical approval printed within the volume praises the book for:
- faithfully drawing from the Holy Gospels
- presenting Christ’s life in chronological order
- avoiding unnecessary scholarly disputes
- strengthening Christian faith among readers
The publisher, Alfred Mame et Fils of Tours, was among the most important Catholic publishing houses in nineteenth-century France, internationally known for producing richly illustrated and finely bound religious books.
Books produced by Mame are now especially collected for their ornate bindings, strong craftsmanship, and historical significance within Catholic publishing.
About the Author
Abbé J.-J. Bourassé was a French ecclesiastical scholar best known for religious historical writings.
Binding & Exterior Description
Bound in highly decorative vibrant red cloth with elaborate gilt and black botanical ornamentation to the boards and spine.
Features include:
- all page edges gilt
- ornate publisher’s decorative binding
- gilt spine lettering
- decorative rear board with publisher’s details
- strong late Victorian shelf appeal
The binding remains remarkably well preserved for its age.
There is only light wear including:
- light fading to the spine
- light rubbing to extremities
- soft bumping to corners
- a few small marks and scratches
Overall, an exceptionally attractive example of a decorative nineteenth-century French religious binding.
Interior Condition
Yellow endpapers and pastedowns.
The pages are lightly tanned but remain generally very clean and well preserved with only occasional light foxing or small marks.
There is:
- a very small hole to the Approbation page not affecting text
- minor pen marking to the outer margin of page 235
- a very light gutter crack between pages 208 and 209
The binding remains secure throughout.
All 367 pages are present and complete.
The volume contains two particularly charming manuscript school prize inserts dated 1901.
Insert 1 Translation
“Compositions for 1901”
- French: 69.5 out of 80
- Arithmetic: 54.5 out of 80
- Religion: 53 out of 80
- Geography: 36 out of 40
- History: 33 out of 40
- Needlework / Work: 20 out of 30
- Total: 266 out of 330
Insert 2 Translation
“31 July 1901
First General Prize
Miss Germaine Schellunx
266 points out of 330”
These original inserts add strong social-historical charm and provide tangible evidence of the book’s use within early twentieth-century French education.
Illustrations
Illustrated with:
- engraved frontispiece of Flight into Egypt (Fuite en Égypte)
- numerous engravings throughout the text
- full-page illustrations
All illustrations are present.
Physical Details
Pages: 367
Dimensions: Approximately 27.3 cm x 17.8 cm x 2.9 cm
Weight: Approximately 1106 g
Provenance & Inserts
This copy retains original educational prize-related inserts dating from 1901, likely associated with a French Catholic educational institution.
These ephemeral survivals provide an evocative glimpse into the book’s early ownership and use within religious education at the turn of the twentieth century.