DOI Heft:
No. 10 (January, 1894)
DOI Artikel:Some recent volumes on the printed book and its decoration
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17189#0152
The Printed Book and its Decoration
s
OME RECENT VOLUMES ON have typical instances of detached cuts, full pages
THE PRINTED BOOK AND ITS w^ tvPe' initials, head-pieces, printers' marks, and,
DECORATION.
/.WAT SON. HG^
There are books that appeal to collec-
tors and those interested in the art of book-
making. The present season has been rather fruit-
ful in adding to the comparatively small number of
these. This revival of interest in the literature of
the subject is another recognition of the increased
attention paid to the production and illustration of
books. Therefore we may consider briefly some of
the most notable, and discuss their merits with a
certain sense of fitness in bringing together a group
differing widely
in appearance,
yet all recognis-
ing the art that
is dearest to the
bibliophile.
The first on
the list—Mr.
Pollard's Early
II lustrated
Books*—h a s
been eagerly
awaited by all designed by c. r. halkett. (" English book-
interested in the plates." g. bell &■ sons)
the^'Vi n't ed *n ^act' °^ tne wno'e ranSe °f devices and pictures
b k nd i then somewhat lavishly employed. Although from
• ', , occasional remarks we can discover not merely
curiously happy 3
in its moment
of arrival. Mr.
William Morris,
who has shown
the world his
idea of a perfect
book, has pub-
licly extolled the
young Birming-
ham artists who
are working in
designed by r. anning bell ways that hark
back to the ex-
amples of Mr. Pollard's volume. As the author
in a very pithy preface remarks : " A book may
be very profusely and even very judiciously illus-
trated without being much the better for it deco-
ratively." His first sentence runs : " No point in
the history of printing has been more frequently
insisted on than the perfection to which the art at-
tained at the moment of its birth"; and his argument
goes far to justify his belief in the statement. The
great value of this excellent work, considered histori-
cally or from the book-collector's standpoint, need
not be dwelt upon; the author's claim to scholarship,
and a peculiarly wide knowledge of his subject, are
beyond dispute. From title-page to colophon,
1 r l K • 4L ■ f i designed BY F. C. tilney. ("english book-
dunn? the course of two centuries, the internal ,, „ ,
j ° . , , . . - , j. , , plates. g. bell <~ sons)
decoration of the book is followed, discussed, and
illustrated; and in the fifty-eight illustrations we ^ Mr poUard is keenly aliye tQ the artisdc
* Early Illustrated Books. F By Alfred W. Pollard. qualities of his theme, but has very definite
(London : Kegan Paul, Trench & Co.) opinions thereon, yet critical analysis of the illustra-
140
LX LIBRIS ARTHVRi
TRLVETHIN NOWE.LL
s
OME RECENT VOLUMES ON have typical instances of detached cuts, full pages
THE PRINTED BOOK AND ITS w^ tvPe' initials, head-pieces, printers' marks, and,
DECORATION.
/.WAT SON. HG^
There are books that appeal to collec-
tors and those interested in the art of book-
making. The present season has been rather fruit-
ful in adding to the comparatively small number of
these. This revival of interest in the literature of
the subject is another recognition of the increased
attention paid to the production and illustration of
books. Therefore we may consider briefly some of
the most notable, and discuss their merits with a
certain sense of fitness in bringing together a group
differing widely
in appearance,
yet all recognis-
ing the art that
is dearest to the
bibliophile.
The first on
the list—Mr.
Pollard's Early
II lustrated
Books*—h a s
been eagerly
awaited by all designed by c. r. halkett. (" English book-
interested in the plates." g. bell &■ sons)
the^'Vi n't ed *n ^act' °^ tne wno'e ranSe °f devices and pictures
b k nd i then somewhat lavishly employed. Although from
• ', , occasional remarks we can discover not merely
curiously happy 3
in its moment
of arrival. Mr.
William Morris,
who has shown
the world his
idea of a perfect
book, has pub-
licly extolled the
young Birming-
ham artists who
are working in
designed by r. anning bell ways that hark
back to the ex-
amples of Mr. Pollard's volume. As the author
in a very pithy preface remarks : " A book may
be very profusely and even very judiciously illus-
trated without being much the better for it deco-
ratively." His first sentence runs : " No point in
the history of printing has been more frequently
insisted on than the perfection to which the art at-
tained at the moment of its birth"; and his argument
goes far to justify his belief in the statement. The
great value of this excellent work, considered histori-
cally or from the book-collector's standpoint, need
not be dwelt upon; the author's claim to scholarship,
and a peculiarly wide knowledge of his subject, are
beyond dispute. From title-page to colophon,
1 r l K • 4L ■ f i designed BY F. C. tilney. ("english book-
dunn? the course of two centuries, the internal ,, „ ,
j ° . , , . . - , j. , , plates. g. bell <~ sons)
decoration of the book is followed, discussed, and
illustrated; and in the fifty-eight illustrations we ^ Mr poUard is keenly aliye tQ the artisdc
* Early Illustrated Books. F By Alfred W. Pollard. qualities of his theme, but has very definite
(London : Kegan Paul, Trench & Co.) opinions thereon, yet critical analysis of the illustra-
140
LX LIBRIS ARTHVRi
TRLVETHIN NOWE.LL