{"product_id":"1840s-french-first-communion-certificate-precieux-souvenir","title":"Antique 1840s French First Communion Certificate | Précieux Souvenir | Steel Engraving with Angels | Signed by the Curé","description":"\u003cp\u003eA large and finely detailed French \u003cstrong\u003eFirst Communion certificate\u003c\/strong\u003e of the \u003cstrong\u003e1840s\u003c\/strong\u003e, printed from a richly ornamented \u003cstrong\u003esteel engraving\u003c\/strong\u003e and completed by hand for a young communicant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA banner held by two haloed angels at the top reads \u003cem\u003e“Précieux Souvenir”\u003c\/em\u003e (“A precious keepsake”), beneath a sheaf of wheat – a symbol of the Eucharistic bread. Gothic side panels show the radiant Host above a chalice amid clouds and cherubs, and two angels with harps stand guard below, framed by vines and bunches of grapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe central scene is set in a soaring Gothic church: a priest gives Holy Communion at the altar rail, assisted by clergy and servers with candles and a processional cross, while girls in long white veils and boys in dark jackets kneel along the communion cloth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe cartouche beneath reads \u003cem\u003e“… a fait sa 1ère communion dans l’Église de … le … du mois de … de l’année 184…”\u003c\/em\u003e, completed by hand in ink that has faded with time: the name appears to be \u003cstrong\u003eAdolphe\u003c\/strong\u003e, the date the 9th day of the month (possibly September) of a year in the 1840s. The certificate is signed below by the \u003cem\u003ecuré\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e engraved and hand-completed First Communion certificate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e France\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1840s\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e French\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e approx. 18 × 26.5 cm (7.1 × 10.4 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e fair to good; the engraving is crisp, but the handwritten entries are much faded and only partly legible; old folds with surface cracking, a tear at the right edge, spotting and toning, mainly on the reverse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful example of 19th-century French devotional printmaking, ideal for framing. The item you receive is the exact one pictured.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sacra Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59226449346895,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1035\/5556\/3855\/files\/1840s-precieux-souvenir-first-communion-certificate-engraving.jpg?v=1792711083","url":"https:\/\/sacrarelics.com\/products\/1840s-french-first-communion-certificate-precieux-souvenir","provider":"Sacra Relics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}