Petit Bijou des Dames, Le. Marcilly, Rue St. Jacques, 31. Paris. Micro-miniature in original walnut etui. [1817].

64 pages in French (last three blank apart from black borders). Eight engraved plates of women. Features lovers' songs, lovers' games, marriage, the resurrection of love, and the hymen and love. Together with a calendar.All edges gilt. No inscriptions. 16 x 20 mm. Original full red morocco, covers with gilt central lyre motif within elaborately tooled gilt borders. Spine and covers slightly rubbed. The original walnut shell etui is lined with peach silk and the original mirror in the lid. The hinges, and the fitted base are beautifully hand-crafted in original yellow metal mounts containing a miniature yellow metal basket pin cushion, tweezers, a miniarue bodkin, a damaged pencil, and stiletto. Possibly lacking two needles. Walnut shell casing in very good condition with wonderful patina. Not in Grand-Carteret. Spielmann, 399A. Welsh, 5546. in  March 1952 a copy of this edition in a walnut shell etui sold for $50.00 (Schatzki). OCLC, 809035508. WorldCat records two copies worldwide (Koninklijke Bibiotheek, Pierpont Morgan Library). A charming miniature etui made out of a real walnut shell. Considered a marvel of craftsmanship, this etui would have been a conversation piece as well as being a luxurious, and sentimental object in the early 19th-century French Restoration period. It is a perfect example of a "book beautiful in all its forms," combining 1817 French publishing, specialised, tiny bookbinding, and the art of the keepsake etui.