Browse Items (420 total)

This bookplate of Fréderic Lachèvre (1855-1943), French bibliophile, literary critic, editor, and specialist in 17th century literature of the Libertines, is remarkable for the finesse of its engraving. The image of the skull resting on a pile of…

This first example is that of what is termed an “armorial binding”, where the coat of arms of an aristocratic family will serve to indicate ownership on a book’s binding. Such bindings are executed with exquisite care and a family’s arms are tooled…

This printed ex-libris, attached to the “von Ende” family of Altjessnitz, Germany, appears on the interior pastedown of this book. It serves to remind us that the ex-libris was also considered an art form during certain eras for bibliophiles, who…

The endpapers of this accounting “textbook” by François Barrême, a very popular work in its time, was used by its owner to puzzle out practical exercises of calculation, including problems and answers.

This title by Bounhours demonstrates the reuse of the materials by bookbinders. In this particular case, a very refined and aesthetically pleasing handwriting adds to the charm of this “recycled” bookbinding. The hand is unknown; does it stem from an…

The use of marbling reaches its pinnacle with this example, with its swirling motif, which appear to be created in a “freestyle” manner. Of special note with this work is the fact that the edges of the book have been decorated using a similar…

This item offers us a glance at marbled paper very typical of the 18th century, with its traditional choice of colours and a design typical of the era; many similar examples are to be found in the collection. The Encyclopedie by Diderot and…

This title, dating the end of the 19th century, offers the viewer a fine example of “combed” marble. The colours chosen in this example, however, are unusual and demonstrate the limitless creativity that surrounded the manufacturing of marbled paper…

The motif used here is an example of marbled paper with a small comb. The comb consists of a wooden stick with small metal spikes inserted into it. The smallness of the comb makes it possible to make turnstiles, which gives this particular…

The paper that makes up the cover for this little French comedy of the 17th century has been created with a technique new for this era: hand block printed paper, termed “dominoté” in French. The motif used here has been printed and then the colours…