152

MODERN BOOKBINDING.

years at Eton with Pote the bookseller, came to Lon-don , and was, some time about the years 176G—70,fixed as a binder near Leicester Square, by the lateMr. Thomas Payne, the eminent bookseller, thenliving at the Mews Gate. His great taste in the choiceof ornaments, and judicious application of them, soonprocured him numerous patrons among the noble andwealthy; and had his conduct been equal to his abi-lity, great as were his achievements in the art, it ishazardous to conjecture how much further he mighthave benefitted it, as well as himself. His books arenot so well forwarded as it has been the fortune of thepresent day to witness. His favourite colour appearsto have been olive, which he called Venetian. Hisornaments were the great boast of his bindings. Theywere chaste, beautiful, classical, and most correctlyexecuted ; the sides being the field in which he shonemost conspicuously. The ornaments of his backs, andhis mode of managing bands, were peculiarly his own,and books executed by him are quickly discovered bythese characteristic marks. A Glasgow ASschylus,folio, 1795, in earl Spenser’s library, which containsmany specimens of his binding, is considered to bethe chef d’ouvre of his workmanship. Of the styleand quantity of work employed, the following bill,delivered with it, will show, and also exhibit a curiousspecimen of his style.

“ Aeschylus Glasguae, MDCCXCVFlaxman Illustravit. Boundin the very best manner, sew’d with strong Silk, every Sheetround every Band, not false Bands; The Back lined withRussia Leather, Cut Exceeding large ; Finished in the most