Antique, French, Mechanical/Pop-up Canivet for First Communion

$50.00

This mechanical/pop-up canivet or Communion card from France measures 8" x 4.75" closed. Inked on the reverse is "Souvenir d'un ami, Augustin Bec." Translated, this is "memory of a friend." These holy cards were customarily given to family and friends on the occasion of the communicant's First Communion. This would be considered a high-end canivet; therefore, it is reasonable to believe that the communicant's family were well-to-do.

The card also has tissue paper and silky material adorning it as decorations.

Thank you to https://www.casacenina.com/blog/canivet-the-ancient-paper-art.html and https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/studies-in-church-history/article/abs/first-or-solemn-communion-images-in-france-18852021/9CA3384C7AA5A4FD38E1D49686F195D0 for the informative articles on canivets.

*****Condition: Please note there is significant wear and discoloration to the canivet. The most prominent discoloration is the stain appearing in the last photo. There is also a crease across the boy's face and one on his neck. Overall, there may be small pieces missing. I cannot be certain as there are no observable definite tears. Finally, please note the lower right and left corners with missing paper in the eighth photo. *****It's important to emphasize that this is late 1800s, early 1900s ephemera with significant wear and discoloration. Please examine all photos carefully and do let me know if you need more as I'll be happy to oblige.

Thank you for looking.

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