Perdus dans l'Espace
Théodore Cahu
📚 Genre
Voyages Extraordinaires / Science-Fiction / Adventure
🏢 Publisher
Librairie de l'Éducation de la Jeunesse (G. Colomb)
📅 Publication Year
Circa 1900-1910
🔢 ISBN
N/A - Pre-dates ISBN system
About This Book
An early French science fiction and adventure novel concerning a voyage into space. The book is bound in a striking red cloth cartonnage featuring a 'Japonisant' (Japanese-style) floral design with chrysanthemums, encompassing a gilt-stamped illustration of a shipwreck/crashed vessel and a lone survivor on a rocky landscape. This style of binding was popularized for children's gifts and prizes (prix de fin d'année) in late 19th and early 20th century France.
Book Details
Language
French
Pages
Approximately 200-300 pages
Edition
Deluxe Gilt Binding (Cartonnage d'éditeur), Illustrated
Series
Part of the Voyages Extraordinaires tradition; standalone title.
Target Audience
Juvenile / Young Adult (late 19th-century French market)
Collector Information
Condition
Good to Very Good. The red pigment on the cover remains vibrant, and the gilt stamping is largely intact. Moderate rubbing at the corners and bumping of the spine ends are visible. The cloth shows minor surface soiling consistent with age.
Estimated Value
$60 - $120
Rarity
Uncommon. While these mass-produced prize books were printed in large quantities, finding specific titles like Cahu's in well-preserved, vibrant red cloth is becoming increasingly difficult as they are often prone to fading and spine damage.
Historical Significance
A representative example of French 'Belle Époque' adventure literature that followed the commercial success of Jules Verne. It reflects the era's fascination with aerial travel and the cosmos within the context of the French educational prize book market.
Collector Notes
Collectors of 'Cartonnages Romantiques' or early Sci-fi should prioritize the brightness of the red cloth and the integrity of the gilt. Value is heavily dependent on the condition of the spine (not visible here) and the presence of any internal foxing. Keep away from direct sunlight to prevent further fading of the red dye, which is highly photosensitive.
Similar Books
De la Terre à la Lune by Jules Verne, La Guerre des Mondes by H.G. Wells, Aventures d'un aéronaute parisien by Alfred de Grandeffe
Notable Features
Elaborate polychrome cartonnage binding; black and gold stamped cover vignette; floral lattice background; marbled endpapers likely present internally.