110 KNGLISH BINDING AND BINDERS,

mode, but part of the wood cut away to make roomfor them.

The edges, which are generally cut very true, aresometimes plain, hut the best works gilt. The latterare exceedingly well executed, being, with the excep-tion of a little tarnish, still very perfect, brilliant, andof a yellow tint, mellowed by age. Some are alsoblind-tooled after the first gilding, giving a very richeffect. The headbands are sometimes worked in asimilar manner to those of modem days, sometimescomposed of a round plaited twist, fastened at eachend, and at others of strips of coloured leather workedone over the other.

The oaken boards are found covered with vellumand calf. The covers appear to have been stretchedtightly over, the arabesque and ornamental toolingbeing executed afterwards. Manual labour and ma-chinery seem to have jointly assisted in this branchof the art, it being evident a high degree of pressure,and quickness of execution, was necessary to give thepeculiar finish and sharpness many of the designsexhibit. There is scarcely any end to the variety ofthe embellishments; portraits, flowers, mottos, scrolls,and elaborate designs, are profusely spread over thesides, with the greatest propriety of style and goodtaste ; while the backs are frequently covered withsmall ornament of a pleasing character. Theartists who executed them never lost sight of theeffect of true proportion; and the spirit of all theirornamenatal decoration is a reflection on the taste of