PLATE XCVI.
In our notice of Plate LII. we described the processes of ordinary leather binding, and noticed the earlyhistory of that art in England to the days of Roger Payne. That distinguished binder flourished in the latternaif of the eighteenth century, and was not only perfect in his handicraft, but showed especial taste in theCaptation of his ornaments to the subject of the works he bound. Some of these, such as French romances,AVere powdered with Jleurs-de-lis .- his books on chivalry had suitable devices, such as helmets, spurs, and gauntlets;an d on poetical works he used a simple lyre. He did all'with his own hands; from the folding, beating, andsewing, to colouring his end papers, and making his own tools and letters. One of his bills, which is still extant,has been often quoted as a curiosity. It is as follows: — “Vanerii Pr indium Rusticum. Parisius, mdcclxxiv.®°und in the very best manner, in the finest green morocco, the back lined with red morocco. Fine drawing-paper, and very neat morocco joints inside. Their was a few Leaves stained at the foredge, which is washedari d cleand, 0:0: 6d. The subject of the Book being Rusticum, I have ventur’d to putt The Vine Wreath onxt * I hope I have not bound it in too rich a manner for the Book . It takes up a great deal of time to do'Ihese Vine Wreaths. I guess, within Time, I am certain of, measuring and working the different and varioussmall Tools required to fill up the Vine Wreath, that it takes very near 3 days’ Work in finishing the twoSl des only of the Book ; but I wished to do my best for the work, and at the same time I cannot expect toc ^ ar ge a full and proper price for the work, and hope that the price will not only be found reasonable but
cheap—0:185 : orf.”
Harley, earl of Oxford, who collected the library which bears his name, usually had his works bound inre d morocco, with a broad-tooled border and centre ornament, from which the Harleian style takes its name.
Johnson, an English binder of the last century, was remarkable for his excellent work, both in calfan d morocco. Most of the books in the library of the late Mr. Beckford were bound by Charles Lewisan( I Kalthoeber, a German . The plain morocco work of the latter is excellent. Baumgarten, Staggemeir,^°hn, and other German binders, also distinguished themselves in England. The admirable workmanship ofHering has caused his binding to be justly prized; and the name of Mackinlay also deserves honourableMention. Mr. Clarke, of the well-known firm of Clarke and Bedford, was famous for his “ tree-marbled calf.’^Uny 0 f hjg S p ec i mens are 0 f plain morocco externally, but finished with leather joints inside, and sewn^ffh silk upon bands. Some beautiful examples of his partner’s skill in rebinding old books are preservedln the Grenville Library. Much of the great improvement which has of late years taken place in book-binding is due to Mr. Hay day, and, as far as execution is concerned, he is faultless. Mr. Cundall, to whomare indebted for these notices of modern binders, exhibited to the Society of Arts a volume by thisai tist (i n imperial folio), for the execution of which 57,000 separate impressions of tools had been lequiied.
The art of bookbinding attained great perfection in Italy in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuiies; andnuiny exquisite works of that era still exist, which are remarkable for the taste and elegance of theii scioll-V0l k and other patterns, both in blind and gold tooling, upon white vellum. Roscoe, in his Life ofboienzo de’ Medici,” vol. ii. p. 79, describes the bindings of the manuscripts collected by I ieio and Loienzo.