4J4
ENGLISH BOOKBINDING.
[Class XVII.
It is to be deplored that appearauee should be so oftenpreferred to reality, and that instead of the solidity whichoar fathers sought before everything, the inconstancy ofour age should, by a contrary excess, prefer changeable-ness and variety. But, after all, books cannot be sur-rounded by too many attractions in order to inspire allclasses with a taste for reading.
For bindings in boards a system has been for sometime adopted, of employing ornaments allied by theirstyle of design to the subject treated of in the bookcovered by them.
Amongst the beautiful bindings exhibited by the dif-ferent bookbinders, the Jury have particularly remarkedthe works of the following exhibitors:—
B JOKBINMNG—England.
Remnants and Co., Lovell’s Court, London (5, p. 537).—The design shows excellence and good taste ; theirworkmanship is perfect; and in the application of carvedwood to binding, by the patent mode of burning in thepattern, a great degree of beauty and cheapness, comparedwith carving, is attained.
J. S. Evans, Berwick Street ( 8 , p. 537).—An impe-rial 4to album, bound in vellum, illuminated by JosephStuart Evans, with the rose, shamrock, and thistle, inter-twined and inclosed within a border of gold and colouis.The interior of the book embellished with illuminatedpages of various designs, and on the inside of the coversthe arms of Her Majesty the Queen and Ilis KovalHighness Prince Albert , also illuminated by the samemethod. The clean and superior finish of this albumdeserves great praise. An album in the Etruscan style,black kid inlaid upon a brown ground, the edges of theleaves ornamented to correspond. The Art Union Illus-trations of the “ Pilgrim’s Progress,” bound in morocco,finished in outline; the subject, “ Christian met by Evan-gelist.” By lines and gauges; a style of decoration totallyunsuited for the purpose. The gold is well worked andbright. The whole of the binding exhibited by Mr.Evans is well executed.
Messrs. Leighton, of Brewer Street (24, p. 538).— These bookbinders evince, in various styles, greatperfection, and all kinds of binding seem easy in theirbauds. Their manner of restoring fnc-similes of miss-ing pages to valuable works is first-rate. A quartoLexicon, unfinished, showing a new mode of coveringa book in such a manner as to preserve the strength ofthe leather at the joints. This appears to be an advan-tage. The taste displayed in the Koyal Bible , withheavy ornaments, was inferior and of less happy adap-tion to the subject than Luke Limmer's general de-signs.
Mr. Josiaii Westley (48, p. 540).—Spenser’s works inwhite vellum, a 4to Bible in russia antique, and otherspecimens, show excellence in workmanship.
Messrs. Bowe and Sons (52, p. 541).—Their speci-mens of binding attracted the attention of the Juryby the cheapness and general excellence of their clothbinding.
K. J. IIayday ( IOC, p. 544) sustains his well-earnedreputation in the bindings exhibited by Cundall andAddey.
M. D. Batten, Clapham Common, London (59, p. 541 \—The books exhibited by him were elaborately worked,although requiring more careful attention in finishing.
J. Wright, of Noel Street (139, p. 545). — “DasNiebelungenlied,” royal 4to. A fine specimen of vellumilluminated binding, in the Grolier style, the designby an English workman. The price of binding, 1(7.*■ Pugin’s Glossary,” royal 4to, inlaid illuminated mo-rocco, well and expensively executed: the design takenfrom the contents of the book, and adapted to the deco-ration of the binding. The price of the binding, 10 /.Owen Jones and Humphrey’s illuminated books of themiddle ages, imperial folio, dark-brown morocco, blind-tooled in imitation of the old monastic binding. Themanner of fastening the leaves so as to open freelv, bymeans of silk joints, appeal's superior to caoutchouc,where so large a book is required to open freely without
twisting. Price of binding, 4/. “ Silvester’s Universal
Paleography,” imperial folio, brown morocco; the sidesbeautifully and accurately tooled in the old French stvle,in gold. It is a first-rate specimen of forwarding, soliditv,and correct workmanship. Price of binding, 4/. “Law’sDomestic Animals of Great Britain,” chastely decoratedand good workmanship. “ Rogers' Poems,” and “ Italy, ”specimens of rich and accurate tooling, the edges marbledand well gilt over. “ Memoires de Napoleon,” royal 8 vo.A specimen of emblematical binding. “ Bohn’s StandardLibrary,” in calf gilt, is a fine specimen of sound, durable,aud useful binding, and the price moderate, being 3s. (hi.per volume. “ Bohn’s Classical Library,” as a revivalof the English style of binding of the" period of 17G0,with highly-raised boards, is another specimen of superiorworkmanship. The whole of the specimens justify thereputation Mr. Wright has acquired.
Messrs. Westley and Co., of Friar Street (ill,p. 544) had, among other well-bound specimens, a royalfolio Bible in purple morocco, bevelled boards, richlyenchased gilt clasps, cornel's, and centres. The interiorof the boards worked in gold, the edges of the leavesilluminated in gold and colours in the missal style. Thecost of this binding is 75/. The workmanship is highlymeritorious, and proves that if work can be so well andelaborately executed, it is worthy of better designs.
Messrs. Macombik and Co., Percy Street ( 2 G, p. 539 ).—A Cambridge folio Bible , red morocco, gilt centres, onein tortoiseshell and buhl; a royal 4to Bible in russia ,aud numerous other specimens, showing manv points ofgreat merit, but somewhat deficient in the finishing, anerror which could and should have been avoided, par-ticularly where so much elaborate work is bestowed.The prices given are—
- G
A Cambridge folio Bible , red morocco,elegant, gilt corners and centre, silkinsides -------
A Cambridge folio Bible , tortoiseshelland buhl, silk insides, elegant — — 15
A London folio liihle, morocco buhl — 15
A London demy folio Bible , bronze andblind-tooled ------ d
A royal 4to Bible, russia — — — 6
A royal 4to Bible , maroon morocco,silk insides ------ 7
A royal 4to Bible , brown moroccoA royal4to Bible , purple morocco, platesA crown 4to Bible , brown morocco,silk insides - — — - — _
A crown 4to Bible , purple morocco,silk insides - — - — - —
A crown 4to Bible, calf, imitation woodA crown 4to Bible , velvet-pierced, giltsides — — — — — — — —
A royal 4to Prayer — — — - —
A royal 8 vo PrayerA pica Svo imperial Bible , inlaid —
A long primer Svo, referenceA Boceacio, vellum , illuminated — -
25 0 0
4 4 0
4 4
8 108 0
- 2
Mi's. Lewis, Duke Street (1G3, p. 547).—“ Horne’sCommentary,” “ Glossary of Architecture,” and otherworks, among which was one in the Gothic style, allbearing evidence of good and careful workmanship.
Messrs. Barrett and Co., Fleet Street (19G, p. 550).—Specimens of carefully and well-executed work, amongwhich is a royal 4to Altar Service , ultramarine borderround the pages, and carved wood boards, covered inTurkey morocco: the electro-metal corners and centres! deserve mention. Mr. Barrett had also numerous smallCommon Prayers and Church Services, perforated andengraved, solid covers, &c.
Mr. P. Sapsford, London (35, p. 539,.—An illumi-nated and elaborately finished 4to Bible , in red morocco,with metal edges.
Mr. Tarrant, London (43, p. 540). — The Worksof Sir Thomas Lawrence , morocco illuminated, neatlybound.
Mr. Neil, Edinburgh (91, p. 513).- An imperial4to Bible , white morocco, super-extra, morocco inside,with satin fly-leaves, the outside of the boards and back