Michelet, [Jules]. Histoire de la Révolution. [Folk Art, book promotional or memento (?)]. Circa 1880.

Miniature solid wooden book. Hand-painted and varnished in the blue, white, and red of the French Tricolour with a homespun feel. On the front is the book's title and on the spine is the author's surname. On the back are three hand-painted roses and their stems. The spine has a hole drilled inside through which a Tricolour silk ribbon has been threaded like a small lanyard. The blue, white, red French Tricolour is iconic for originating during the 1789 Revolution as a mix of Paris colors (blue/red) and the royal white. Officially adopted in 1794, it symbolizes Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.Michele's writing departed from traditional narratives by making the collective French people the protagonist, rather than individual kings or leaders. He viewed the Revolution as the victory of la Justice  and the people over monarchical and clerical privilege. While Michelet's original 1789 work is traditionally academic, its focus on the People and vivid, Romantic narrative style has frequently led to editions featuring folk-style illustrations or promotional materials that emphasise the human story. The Jules Rouff & Cie edition of Histoire de la Révolution française (circa 1880–1890) is a late 19th-century popular edition, specifically designed to bring Jules Michelet’s republican handbook to the masses through a visually rich, accessible format and I wonder if this memento dates to that time. 25 x 30 mm. Slightly chipped and handled. All the colours are somewhat faded.