Browse Items (91 total)

EnglishTwo hundred and twenty years younger than its display case neighbour Les Ordonnances et édicts du très chrestien roy de France Charles neufiesme du nom […], this item is a good example of the economic measures taken to reduce the costs of…

EnglishThis binding of parchment on boards displays stab holes within its covers for ties (now missing). The spine label is in red morocco, with the title “Juvenalis et Persius” tooled on in gold. There is tooling in gold on front and back covers,…

EnglishThis example shows the “mottled” style of marbling, attempting to reproduce the effect of natural stone, here in a spectacular combination of blue tones. The edges have been gilded and are in remarkable shape.

English This binding is a geometric juxtaposition of blue and red morocco leathers with a centerpiece, also sporting tooled decoration in gilt, in white parchment. The binding is signed by G. Samucewicz, and although one sees mention of the binder in…

EnglishRobert Estienne (1503-1559) was the second son of printer Henri Estienne. After his father’s death in 1520, he collaborated with his older brother François and Simon de Colines (whose printer’s device we see in another item on display in this…

EnglishThe edge of this book displays a decorative technique used fairly often. Instead of a marbled edge, here one has opted for a light sprinkling effect, achieved by drops of colour being “tapped” from the bristles of the brush. FrançaisLa tranche…

EnglishThis 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…

English The binding of this work has been elaborately blind-stamped with a number of decorative tools. Note the manuscript waste visible at the top of the spine; again, materials were reused wherever possible to add in the binding process, especially…

EnglishThis leather binding sports a large floral ornament blind-tooled into the centre of each cover, with double borders in gilt. Although printed in Madrid, this item contains the stamp of a bookseller in “Habana”. Is this perhaps a Cuban binding.…