Alfred Mame et fils
A historic French religious and children's book publisher, founded in Tours in 1796 and now part of Média-Participations.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
Alfred Mame et fils, commonly known as Mame or Éditions Mame, is a French publishing house founded in Tours in 1796 by Charles-Pierre Mame. It became one of the most important religious publishers in France during the 19th century under Alfred Mame, who transformed it into a large-scale industrial printing and binding operation. The company published Bibles, missals, school books, and children's literature, and at its peak employed over 1,500 workers. After the Mame family sold their shares in 1980, the house became part of Desclée de Brouwer and later a subsidiary of Éditions Fleurus within the Média-Participations group. Today, Mame Éditions continues to publish religious and children's books, with a catalogue that includes Bibles, catechism materials, illustrated children's stories, and books for young readers. Its website features bestsellers such as La Bible – reliure souple rose and La belle histoire de Jésus, as well as catechetical series like Aventuriers de Dieu. The publisher remains active in the French-language religious and educational market.
History
The publishing house was founded by Charles-Pierre Mame (1747–1825), who opened a bookshop in Angers in 1778 and a printing press in 1781, primarily to produce two newspapers. He quickly became the most important printer in the region and established his sons in various production centers: Angers, Paris, and Tours. After the founder's death and the bankruptcy of the Paris bookshop, the family's printing activities expanded in Tours. Two of his sons, and especially his grandson Alfred Mame, gave the family business an industrial character. The eldest son, Louis (1775–1839), became a bookseller and publisher in Paris, publishing works by Germaine de Staël, but the harassment of the Napoleonic police partly caused his ruin. Another son, Amand (1776–1848), developed a printing house in Tours that his father had founded in 1796, handling publications for the prefecture and the bishopric. In 1833, he called to the direction his nephew and son-in-law Ernest Mame (future mayor of Tours) and his son Alfred, who took sole charge in 1845. The business name 'Amand Mame et Cie' remained in use until 1863, before becoming 'Alfred Mame & fils, Tours'. After publishing some classical works and devotional books with his cousin Ernest from 1833 to 1845, Alfred conceived and realized for the first time the idea of bringing together under one publishing house a number of workshops grouping all book-related industries: printing, binding, sales, and shipping. By analogy with the great steelworks of Le Creusot, the Mame company was called the 'literary Creusot'. Mame published the books of the Bibliothèque de la jeunesse chrétienne. The book La Touraine, Histoire et monuments was exhibited at the 1855 Universal Exposition and was the most richly illustrated book of its time (by Karl Girardet, Louis Français, and H. Catenacci). The catalogue also included a Bible with illustrations by Gustave Doré, Charlemagne by Alphonse Vétault, Saint Louis by Wallon, and Chefs-d'œuvre de la langue française. Mame was also one of the main owners of the paper mills of La Haye-Descartes (of which he was a founder with Ernest Mame, Henri and Eugène Goüin, Charles de Montgolfier, and Hettere), so it could be said that a book, from the moment rags were transformed into paper until binding, passed through a series of workers all dependent on Mame. Daily, from 1865, the publishing house produced three to four thousand kilos of books. From 600 workers in 1848, Mame employed 1,200 in 1862 and then 1,500 in 1866. The Mame house became the reference in religious publishing and obtained the exclusive right to publish the Roman missal worldwide. Alfred Mame, understanding the advantage to be gained from the school laws that succeeded from the 1830s, launched into publishing school books. The Falloux Law of 1850 was particularly favorable to him. Éditions MAME published on a large scale prize books and works for young people. In 1853, the Mame house published 4.5 million volumes per year; by 1863 the volume rose to 6 million, three million of which were bound books. Innovative on an industrial level (the gigantic factory built in Tours followed a rigorous principle of division and mechanization of labor), Alfred Mame developed a social policy inspired by the theories of Frédéric Le Play: a pension fund and a mutual aid fund were created; the nursery school was free for staff children; a workers' housing estate was built in 1869, accommodating 62 families in small houses with private gardens for modest rent. The Mame family was the leading employer in the city. After the Second Empire, the company Alfred Mame et fils became the second religious publisher in France, but the leading industrial binder and designer of cartonnage. These were renowned and received numerous awards. Upon Alfred Mame's death in 1893, the company was prosperous. His son Paul Mame (1833–1903) then led the company until 1900. In the following decades, the company maintained its religious publishing activity while refocusing on printing and finishing. In 1894, the Revue Mame was launched: illustrated, it featured artists such as Job, Albert Robida, Auguste Vimar, and Alfons Mucha for nearly ten years. Armand Mame (1864–1926), son of Paul, successfully managed the post-war period and made very profitable real estate investments in the Tours region. The Missel quotidien des fidèles by Father José Feder was long one of the house's bestsellers. In 1940, Mame's premises, along with 7 million books, were destroyed by the bombing of Tours. In 1945, Alfred Mame (1909–1994) took over the company and in 1950 launched the construction of a vast, fully modern factory, known today as the Mame site, located in the heart of the Lamartine district. The factory produced, among other things, the La Pléiade collection for Gallimard and for other publishers. In 1980, the Mame family sold its shares to Desclée de Brouwer. Today, the publishing house is a subsidiary of Éditions Fleurus within the Média-Participations group.
- 1980
The Mame family sells its shares to Desclée de Brouwer.
- 1950
Construction begins on a modern factory in the Lamartine district of Tours.
- 1945
Alfred Mame (1909–1994) takes over the company.
- 1940
Mame's premises and 7 million books are destroyed by the bombing of Tours.
- 1894
Revue Mame is launched, featuring artists such as Alfons Mucha.
- 1893
Alfred Mame dies; his son Paul Mame takes over.
- 1869
A workers' housing estate is built, accommodating 62 families.
- 1866
Mame employs 1,500 workers.
- 1865
Daily production reaches three to four thousand kilos of books.
- 1863
The business name changes to 'Alfred Mame & fils, Tours'; annual output reaches 6 million volumes.
Products and positioning
A historic French publisher specializing in religious and children's literature, combining tradition with modern catechetical and educational content.
La Bible – reliure souple rose
A best-selling Bible with a soft pink binding, priced at €29.95.
La belle histoire de Jésus NE
A children's book telling the story of Christ from the Annunciation to Pentecost, for ages 3 and up, published February 14, 2025.
Aventuriers de Dieu - année 4 - Tous saints !
Catechism materials for year 4, with separate documents for leaders and children.
La merveilleuse histoire de Jésus
An illustrated album by Alexandra Garibal and Rebecca Romeo, published October 30, 2026.
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