1945 French First Edition: "Ave Maria" Roman by Colette Parent – Custom Half-Leather Gilt Spine, Marbled Boards, Paris Éditions Stock - FB10

Product Description:

An exceptional post-WWII French literary artifact. This volume contains the 1945 First Edition printing of the drama novel "Ave Maria" by French author Colette Parent, published in Paris by the celebrated house of Éditions Stock (Delamain et Boutelleau).

This specific copy was custom-bound for an upscale personal library. It features a fine half-leather spine over striking green, tan, and brown hand-marbled paper boards with perfectly matching marbled inner endpapers. The spine features four distinct raised structural bands, fine gold-leaf framing borders, an ornate central clover floral motif, and crisp gilt-stamped lettering reading "C. PARENT" and "AVE MARIA."

The flyleaf preserves an exquisite piece of historical Parisian retail provenance: an original vintage blue bookseller's ticket from a historic shop on Rue de Girard (Paris XVe), showing an old named telephone exchange ("Ségur 63-90"). The volume concludes with highly collectible publishing documentation, including an original Éditions Stock back catalog wrapper and the official French state printing authorization block.

Item Specifications:

• Author: Colette Parent

• Title: Ave Maria (Roman)

• Publisher: Éditions Stock (Delamain et Boutelleau - Paris, France)

• Printer: Imprimerie de Lagny (Emmanuel Grévin et Fils)

• Printing Completion: May 1945 (5-1945)

• Legal Deposit: 3rd Quarter 1945 (3e trimestre 1945) • Post-War Print Authority: Autorisation N° 1905

• Language: French

• Binding: Custom Half-Leather over Hand-Marbled Boards Condition Report: Offered in excellent, well-preserved antiquarian library condition.

• Exterior: The spine leather remains remarkably supple, tight, and structurally sound with no cracking or dry rot along the hinges. The gold gilt accents and lettering are highly reflective and clear. Minimal shelf wear along the edges of the marbled boards.

• Interior: Tightly bound and secure. The 1945 text block pages are flat, clean, and uncreased with sharp typography, displaying a light, beautiful natural paper patina. Free from structural tears or severe foxing.

Size: 18cm x 12cm x 3cm