Studio-Talk
a craft that calls for little
heavy manual labour and
great patience, with dexterity
and neatness, raised to the
level of fine art. But Miss
Annie Macdonald's bindings,
here illustrated, owe their
value to the leather work
which happens, accidentally
as it were, to be devoted
to a book cover, and belong
rather to the class embrac-
ing embroidered and metal
decoration than to the craft
of the true binder. This
may help to explain a slight
weakness in the lettering, and
in the case of Fair Rosamund
more than slight weakness in
° m % bookbinding by annie macdonald
placing the title, which is at
once undecorative and ille-
gible, as it stands on the right hand panel; other- ornament; but if it be weak it will damage the
wise both the designs and their execution deserve effect of the finest,
praise. The introduction of the two shields, well
proportioned in themselves and well placed, is The memorial tablet, here illustrated, with a
marred by italic figures between them—a double frame forged out of solid copper, is interesting
blunder, first, in using Arabic numerals in a " black both as an example of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Dawson's
letter" legend; next, by placing them aslant, so handiwork, and as recognition of a fact which is
that they upset the balance of the whole design, beginning to be realised, that lettering can be in itself
There is so much that is full of feeling, and a decorative enough to dispense with any other orna-
genuine sense of decoration in the plan of these ment. This end is gained, curiously enough, by the
two covers, that one regrets still more the trifling use of sober, reticent alphabets, not necessarily
flaws which mar their whole effect. In binding the devoid of individuality in expression, but rigidly
lettering is always of pre-eminent importance. If avoiding all eccentric forms. The tablet, which is in
that be good it will carry off quite commonplace copper, about the colour of a well-worn penny, would
maintain its position on a
wall amid monuments in
marble or other materials,
and yet not force itself into
undue prominence. The
charm of a line, or a para-
graph of well-planned, well-
placed lettering, is not one
to grow weary of; every
effort to induce the public to
recognise this is worthy of
praise. In this particular
case it is clear that beaten
metal does not lend itself to
the mere formal Roman
letters, which are by far the
best for incision, whether in
stone or metal ; hence one
bookbinding by annie macdonald may commend this warmly,
I 1 2
a craft that calls for little
heavy manual labour and
great patience, with dexterity
and neatness, raised to the
level of fine art. But Miss
Annie Macdonald's bindings,
here illustrated, owe their
value to the leather work
which happens, accidentally
as it were, to be devoted
to a book cover, and belong
rather to the class embrac-
ing embroidered and metal
decoration than to the craft
of the true binder. This
may help to explain a slight
weakness in the lettering, and
in the case of Fair Rosamund
more than slight weakness in
° m % bookbinding by annie macdonald
placing the title, which is at
once undecorative and ille-
gible, as it stands on the right hand panel; other- ornament; but if it be weak it will damage the
wise both the designs and their execution deserve effect of the finest,
praise. The introduction of the two shields, well
proportioned in themselves and well placed, is The memorial tablet, here illustrated, with a
marred by italic figures between them—a double frame forged out of solid copper, is interesting
blunder, first, in using Arabic numerals in a " black both as an example of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Dawson's
letter" legend; next, by placing them aslant, so handiwork, and as recognition of a fact which is
that they upset the balance of the whole design, beginning to be realised, that lettering can be in itself
There is so much that is full of feeling, and a decorative enough to dispense with any other orna-
genuine sense of decoration in the plan of these ment. This end is gained, curiously enough, by the
two covers, that one regrets still more the trifling use of sober, reticent alphabets, not necessarily
flaws which mar their whole effect. In binding the devoid of individuality in expression, but rigidly
lettering is always of pre-eminent importance. If avoiding all eccentric forms. The tablet, which is in
that be good it will carry off quite commonplace copper, about the colour of a well-worn penny, would
maintain its position on a
wall amid monuments in
marble or other materials,
and yet not force itself into
undue prominence. The
charm of a line, or a para-
graph of well-planned, well-
placed lettering, is not one
to grow weary of; every
effort to induce the public to
recognise this is worthy of
praise. In this particular
case it is clear that beaten
metal does not lend itself to
the mere formal Roman
letters, which are by far the
best for incision, whether in
stone or metal ; hence one
bookbinding by annie macdonald may commend this warmly,
I 1 2