Browse Items (91 total)

EnglishThis 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…

EnglishEmbossed on the cover of a fine example of mottled calf, we see as of yet unidentified, elaborate coat of arms, embossed in gold. For those who love enigmas: do not hesitate to inform us of your findings! FrançaisIl s’agit encore d’un exemple…

EnglishThis binding shows a simulated marble effect, which has been styled as “Run or Prusian marble” by 18th century printer and binder James Coghlan in his Memorandum on the bookbinding trade, dating to 1764-65. The effect is generated by black ink…

EnglishA binding of parchment on cardboard, this binding has had its blind-stamped ornamentations coloured black. Its title has also been handwritten in ink on the spine. Note the demi-lune shape of the textblock’s fore-edge: this is a technique…

EnglishThe page on display, the reverse side of an engraved portrait of the author, Andrew Marvell, offers a wonderfully clear and visible example of the watermark embedded into the paper. Watermarks were designs woven into the mould used by…

EnglishThe printer’s device of Nicolo Pezzana (162?-170?) recalls that of the Giunta printers where Pezzana carried out part of his apprenticeship in Venice and which he ended in 1657. Without an inscription or personalized device, this mark depicts…

EnglishMany hands and many quills have annotated this work by Jerome de Hangest, a theologian hailing from Compiègne and a contemporary of Erasmus. The marginalias annotation, as is the text itself, are in Latin, which would indicate a certain amount…

EnglishThis work is open to the printer’s device of Swiss printer, Johann Froben (1460-1527). Based in Basel, Froben was a Humanist scholar himself, and was acquainted with Erasmus, as well as Hans Holbein the Younger, who would not only paint…

EnglishThe front flyleaf has an elaborate inscription that is quite illegible due to its flamboyant handwriting. We do see the initial sentence “Souvenir de Pierre Grospin, dit le vieux grognard à M. Ballard.” These novellas parodying the…

Englishhe smaller size of the comb that is passed through the coloured solution. The smallness of the comb allows for the creation of the spiral designs in this particular pattern. Adding to the aesthetic beauty of this item are the gilt edges.…