Browse Items (259 total)

Embossed in gold on the cover of a fine example of mottled calf, we see an as of yet unidentified, elaborate coat of arms. For those who love enigmas, do not hesitate to inform us of your findings!

Classical texts, authors and classical languages formed the majority of texts printed in the early days of printing. While this item is not as old as its counterparts in the Collection, it does display, very richly, the elaborate Greek fonts that…

This item shows the printer’s device of Jean Petit (14.. - 1533). Petit was a very prolific printer, and was said to have printed one-tenth of all books printed in Paris from approximately 1493-1530, that is, about 1000 titles. Petit also…

This book has lost its binding over time, but its current state allows for a wonderful illustration of the elaborate and painstaking process that went into sewing of a text block before an external cover was applied. Interestingly, this particular…

The title page displays the printer’s device of Sébastian Nivelle (1523-1603). Nivelle was active in Paris from the mid-1500s to 1603, and was at least approaching 80 years of age at the time of his passing, making him the literal “old man” in the…

A typical binding for the geographic region and timeframe whence it was printed, it is likely that this binding was executed with little time lag from the day it left the printer’s studio. Parchment (pigskin) has been laid over wooden boards. The…

Very similar in style to the neighbouring 1544 Virgil, this binding is also of pigskin seating for metal clasps, these now lost, visible. The covers have been over wooden boards, with hardware blind-tooled with various botanical borders, with the…

Visible is the printer’s mark of printer and bookseller François l’Honoré (1673?-1748?), originally from the town of Sedan, Alsace. Initially basing himself in Den Haag where he collaborated with Etienne Foulque, he subsequently set up a printing…

Another example of parchment on cardboard, this binding is on exhibit to show the leather ties that were used to keep the book closed when not in use. Due to the fragility of the leather used to make ties, it is rare that they survive the passage of…

We see here not one but two ex-libris on the front endpaper. The second owner (or another person entirely) has scraped out the name of his predecessor, which was located below a coat of arms surrounded by the following motto: “Mallem Mori Quam…