DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32044#0210
A BOOK COVER.
IN THE POSSESSION OF THOMAS WILLEMENT, ESQ^ F. S. A.
FINE example of the style of binding in use dur-
ing the sixteenth century is here presented, but there
is nothing in the book to Iead to a knowledge of
the person by whom it was designed. It is more
ssowing and masfive in the charadter of the orna-
ments employed thau the celebrated Grolier Bind-
ings though evidently belonging to the same period.
‘isrf JJJ Our wood-cut represents an elegant specimen now in the Britiih
/',/ Museum, but formerly in the library of that diilinguiihed connoisseur
- and patron of Literature and Art, the Chevalier Jean Grolier. The
taile and beauty displayed on the various bindings executed for that
celebrated person, coupled with the fadt that his name, without any
prefix to indicate his rank, is ilamped on every volume, have led the
public very generally to have considered him as the workman employed
in their produdtion. It may therefore not be considered linnecessary to
state a few particulars respesting one who exercised so extensive an in-
ssuence in this very interesting branch of decorative art.
The Chevalier Grolier, who held also the higher rank of Viscount
d’Aguisi, and was one of the four Treasurers of France, was born at
Lyons in 1479· He was a lover and encourager of art in general; but
his great reputation is founded on his love of books. The delicacy, sim-
plicity, and beauty of the designs employed by him are known to all
colledtors ; and the great prices books of small interest in themselves have
sometimes produced at Audions on account of their bindings may be
taken as a proof of the high estimation in which they are held. Dibdin
in his Bibliographical Decameron, states, that at the sale of the celebrated
colledtion of the late Mr. Edwards, a copy of “ Geyler’s Navicula Fatu-
orum,” was bought by the Messrs. Longmans for .£42, although the
work itself might be had on the Continent for a ducat.
Gascon, the celebrated binder of that time was chiessy employed by
Grolier, but the designs are said to have been composed by himself in
moments of leisure from his more seriousand public employments. The
workmanihip of these volumes is quite worthy of their decorations.
They are remarkable for the cate with which the margins have been
preserved, their firmness, and the beauty of their finiih.
IN THE POSSESSION OF THOMAS WILLEMENT, ESQ^ F. S. A.
FINE example of the style of binding in use dur-
ing the sixteenth century is here presented, but there
is nothing in the book to Iead to a knowledge of
the person by whom it was designed. It is more
ssowing and masfive in the charadter of the orna-
ments employed thau the celebrated Grolier Bind-
ings though evidently belonging to the same period.
‘isrf JJJ Our wood-cut represents an elegant specimen now in the Britiih
/',/ Museum, but formerly in the library of that diilinguiihed connoisseur
- and patron of Literature and Art, the Chevalier Jean Grolier. The
taile and beauty displayed on the various bindings executed for that
celebrated person, coupled with the fadt that his name, without any
prefix to indicate his rank, is ilamped on every volume, have led the
public very generally to have considered him as the workman employed
in their produdtion. It may therefore not be considered linnecessary to
state a few particulars respesting one who exercised so extensive an in-
ssuence in this very interesting branch of decorative art.
The Chevalier Grolier, who held also the higher rank of Viscount
d’Aguisi, and was one of the four Treasurers of France, was born at
Lyons in 1479· He was a lover and encourager of art in general; but
his great reputation is founded on his love of books. The delicacy, sim-
plicity, and beauty of the designs employed by him are known to all
colledtors ; and the great prices books of small interest in themselves have
sometimes produced at Audions on account of their bindings may be
taken as a proof of the high estimation in which they are held. Dibdin
in his Bibliographical Decameron, states, that at the sale of the celebrated
colledtion of the late Mr. Edwards, a copy of “ Geyler’s Navicula Fatu-
orum,” was bought by the Messrs. Longmans for .£42, although the
work itself might be had on the Continent for a ducat.
Gascon, the celebrated binder of that time was chiessy employed by
Grolier, but the designs are said to have been composed by himself in
moments of leisure from his more seriousand public employments. The
workmanihip of these volumes is quite worthy of their decorations.
They are remarkable for the cate with which the margins have been
preserved, their firmness, and the beauty of their finiih.