DOI Heft:
No. 47 (February, 1897)
DOI Artikel:White, Gleeson: Some recent bookbindings by T. J. Cobden-Sanderson and Miss E. M. MacColl
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18388#0052
Recent Bookbindings
they collect, Burns' well-known epigram imploring work is no doubt chiefly due to the plain fact that
the maggots to "respect his lordship's taste and until lately the whole decoration of modern binding
spare his golden bindings," would have a much was confessedly derivate. In technique it had
wider significance than he intended. But even reached mechanical perfection, the dexterity of its-
the collector to-day is often a reader also; and he manipulation left no loophole for criticism, but
probably keeps cheap editions of his favourite books its artistic value was too often merely that of a
in duplicate for actual perusal, and enshrines his ex- well executed replica, or a new variation of accepted
travagantly bound copies in silk-lined cases, or be- motives, which possess no real vitality to attract
hind air-tight glazed doors. Yet fine bindings, whether any but antiquarians and purists. In no craft
the phrase be taken metaphorically or literally, are capable of such artistic triumphs as bookbinding
only mechanically connected with books; although has shown itself to be, would it be possible to dis-
modern taste demands that the volume shall be cover so much artistry bestowed on mere stock
worthy its costly robes. Certain books, notably those patterns ; for most of the triumphs of nineteenth
issued in limited numbers from the Kelmscott and century bookbinders are at best " chaste," at worst
Vale Presses, or first editions of accepted master- " deadly dull." Nearly all stand confessed as " exer-
pieces, are chosen for further enrichment at the hands cises " in a certain "style," and betray no idea or
of a master-craftsman. No one to-day binds current invention. It is true that a large number of
theology, legal tomes, or books of reference in foreign bindings and a few English have essayed
costly covers. As a rule, the only books which are novelty at an}- cost, with the usual result. The
thus treated are those intrin-
sically valuable and pro-
duced in a worthy manner.
It is true that an occa-
sional minor poet or essayist
may give his own volume
the honour which he alone
out of a world of men re-
cognises as its due. But
the choice of the contents
to-day is not likely to raise
surprise and tempt future
collectors to quote the " fly
in amber," and wonder why
a thing neither rich nor rare
was enshrined so royally.
Indeed, not a few artist
binders (Mr. T. J. Cobden-
Sanderson for one) refuse
to bestow upon books of no
account the patient care
demanded for a first-rate
binding. Most of the
monographs on bookbind-
ing have been devoted
entirely to old examples by
unknown Italians and Ger-
mans, or by craftsmen so
widely recognised as
Derome, Nicholas, and
Clovis Eve, Le Gascon,
Padeloup, the Nuns of
Little (bidding, Roger Payne,
and the rest. But this limita-
tion of interest to earlier bookbinding designed and executed by t. j. cobden-sanderson
4i
they collect, Burns' well-known epigram imploring work is no doubt chiefly due to the plain fact that
the maggots to "respect his lordship's taste and until lately the whole decoration of modern binding
spare his golden bindings," would have a much was confessedly derivate. In technique it had
wider significance than he intended. But even reached mechanical perfection, the dexterity of its-
the collector to-day is often a reader also; and he manipulation left no loophole for criticism, but
probably keeps cheap editions of his favourite books its artistic value was too often merely that of a
in duplicate for actual perusal, and enshrines his ex- well executed replica, or a new variation of accepted
travagantly bound copies in silk-lined cases, or be- motives, which possess no real vitality to attract
hind air-tight glazed doors. Yet fine bindings, whether any but antiquarians and purists. In no craft
the phrase be taken metaphorically or literally, are capable of such artistic triumphs as bookbinding
only mechanically connected with books; although has shown itself to be, would it be possible to dis-
modern taste demands that the volume shall be cover so much artistry bestowed on mere stock
worthy its costly robes. Certain books, notably those patterns ; for most of the triumphs of nineteenth
issued in limited numbers from the Kelmscott and century bookbinders are at best " chaste," at worst
Vale Presses, or first editions of accepted master- " deadly dull." Nearly all stand confessed as " exer-
pieces, are chosen for further enrichment at the hands cises " in a certain "style," and betray no idea or
of a master-craftsman. No one to-day binds current invention. It is true that a large number of
theology, legal tomes, or books of reference in foreign bindings and a few English have essayed
costly covers. As a rule, the only books which are novelty at an}- cost, with the usual result. The
thus treated are those intrin-
sically valuable and pro-
duced in a worthy manner.
It is true that an occa-
sional minor poet or essayist
may give his own volume
the honour which he alone
out of a world of men re-
cognises as its due. But
the choice of the contents
to-day is not likely to raise
surprise and tempt future
collectors to quote the " fly
in amber," and wonder why
a thing neither rich nor rare
was enshrined so royally.
Indeed, not a few artist
binders (Mr. T. J. Cobden-
Sanderson for one) refuse
to bestow upon books of no
account the patient care
demanded for a first-rate
binding. Most of the
monographs on bookbind-
ing have been devoted
entirely to old examples by
unknown Italians and Ger-
mans, or by craftsmen so
widely recognised as
Derome, Nicholas, and
Clovis Eve, Le Gascon,
Padeloup, the Nuns of
Little (bidding, Roger Payne,
and the rest. But this limita-
tion of interest to earlier bookbinding designed and executed by t. j. cobden-sanderson
4i