EnglishThis exquisite binding in red morocco is a modern binding, probably dating to 350-400 years after the book was initially printed. Tooled and stamped in gilt, with elaborately gilded edges, this was a binding executed for someone with a love of…
EnglishBringing to life the adage of “waste not, want not”, this book’s binding is made of parchment that originally was someone’s correspondence. With paper and leather being expensive commodities due to the ever-increasing amount of titles being…
EnglishLeathers and parchments could be dyed so as to add colour to their external covers; they could also be painted. This third edition of the works of Olympia Morata, humanist, poet and linguist, of Italian origin, is an example of a parchment…
EnglishIn the 20th century, in addition to the pasted-in ex-libris bookplate, we find many different styles and formats of ex-libris indications. The stamped ex-libris turns out to be not only a less onerous form but also one that is much more…
EnglishPublished in Paris, this work does not have an ex-libris per se, but it does have a note written on the inner cover which might offer some insight into the person that owned it. The inscription reads “Il y a deux éditions postérieures l’une…
EnglishLike their modern cousins still available today, almanacs contained information necessary for the carrying out of many aspects of everyday life. Their biggest asset was their portability. The item held by Archives and Special Collections is in…
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…
EnglishThis item has been rebound at least once since its initial binding, this being demonstrated by evidence that the textblock has been cut to fit a newer binding. The current binding is of calf, one which has been dyed green. While it is usually…
EnglishThis work, published in Barcelona at the end of the 16th century, has two 20th century ex-libris labels affixed to its interior cover. These two ex-libris are associated with the same owner, namely Isodoro Fernandez, a Spanish collector and…
EnglishThis item’s binding is of black morocco (goatskin), one of the many colours that this very fine goatskin leather could be dyed with at the time. Its title appears in gilt on the spine, with gilt double borders on its front and back covers and…