Purchased over 25 years ago at a Parisian antique flea market. This is a very old, quintessentially French picture book. It's "L'Auberge de l'Ange Gardien" (The Guardian Angel's Inn), a work by the French female author, Countess of Ségur. It was originally published in 1863. In Japanese, it seems to have been published under titles like "Shugo Tenshi no Yado" (The Guardian Angel's Inn) or "Shinsetsu na Yado-ya" (The Kind Innkeeper). It was widely read in France as a children's book. It's a large picture book, dating from 1937. The illustration style and techniques are quite different from Japanese books, which is interesting. There are many kinds of French books, but this one has a calm, classic French design. It's a rare, old picture book that's hard to find even in France. It would also be great as a prop for photography, and would look good displayed with other antiques. The condition is as it was when purchased. It's showing its age, as if it has been read to children in a French home for generations, with various stains, peeling, etc. It's a picture book that you can tell is antique at a glance, and it would be lovely to display or casually place somewhere. It might be a great match with other antiques. It has a certain atmosphere, so it could be used to study French and French culture while displaying it. It's a book that exudes a French atmosphere. Books like this were sold at a relatively high price at Parisian bouquinistes (used bookshops) back then. Approximate size: 30.5 x 23.5 cm There may be stains, scratches, scuffs, paint loss, fading, tears, writing, spots, yellowing, and missing pages. Please refrain from purchasing if you are a perfectionist.