Le Paradis Tricolore • Alsace • World War I • Chromolithographs • 1918 • Beaucoup D'Images
Paris: H. Floury, 1918.
A CHILD’S VISION OF ALSACE AT THE MOMENT OF LIBERATION.
A richly illustrated patriotic children’s book issued at the close of the First World War, celebrating the return of Alsace to France. Published for Christmas 1918, the work presents an idealized vision of Alsatian towns and villages newly “delivered,” combining regional architecture, daily life, and strong national symbolism.
Hansi—one of the most important visual interpreters of Alsace—deploys his distinctive decorative style to create a unified visual narrative filled with tricolor flags, cockades, and folkloric detail. The result is both charming and purposeful: a work designed to educate and affirm identity in a region long contested between France and Germany.
The vivid chromolithographed plates, combined with abundant in-text illustrations, elevate the volume beyond a simple children’s book into a compelling artifact of wartime culture and visual propaganda. The boldly patterned binding further enhances its appeal as a striking piece of early 20th-century book design.
DETAILS:
+++ First Edition, First Printing (1918); issued for the Christmas season following the liberation of Alsace
+++ Quarto; 12 inches tall; 40 pages
+++ Publisher’s decorated cloth binding with red and white striped design and floral roundels; mounted title label
+++ All edges stained red; pictorial endpapers
+++ Illustrated with 8 chromolithographed plates and numerous in-text decorations by Hansi
+++ Text in French
CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS:
+++ A structured visual tour of Alsatian towns and villages at the moment of reintegration into France
+++ Strong architectural and cultural documentation of regional identity
+++ Cohesive visual narrative blending daily life, folklore, and patriotic symbolism
+++ Chromolithographed plates of notable richness and clarity
+++ A children’s book functioning simultaneously as cultural narrative and postwar propaganda
CONDITION: Very Good+. Bindings are tight and square. Text clean with light, even toning. Minimal shelf handling wear. Colors remain strong and vibrant. A superior and highly presentable example.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT —
Published at the end of World War I, Le Paradis Tricolore reflects the cultural reintegration of Alsace into France after nearly fifty years of German rule. Hansi’s work played a significant role in shaping French perceptions of the region, blending regional pride with national identity. Volumes such as this—produced at a moment of political and emotional transition—stand at the intersection of children’s literature, illustration, and state-influenced visual culture.
Subjects: Alsace, World War I, Hansi, French illustration, chromolithography, children’s books, patriotic literature, regional identity, decorative bindings, early 20th-century France.
Item #21845
Price: $245.00
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