Since identification of the bindings was extremely difficult, the tool catalogs, illustrations of rolls, handstamps, binding labels, and rubbings of spine labels proved indispensable, and will help greatly in further study of this subject. After Chapter One, which is a short overview of Scottish binding in Colonial America, concentrating on the style of binding and decoration which was brought over from Scotland, the book discusses four of the more important binders and their work. John Roulstone, the only native American included in the discussion, worked much of his time for Harvard University. Books bound by him and described in detail are James Freeman's Sermons , a pocket Aldine edition of Sannazaro, printed in 1570, Brady and Tate's Psalms and Hymns , and the recently discovered Essay on the Principle of Population by Malthus. Following the discussion of Roulstone is an essay about full gilt and extra gilt bindings and precise descriptions of what was included in each of these terms, and of the comparative prices.
Information is taken from price lists, bills, etc.
The essay's main concern is tracing the use of gold from 1660 onwards. At first, gold tooling was confined to the front cover, but soon after 1750 it began to be used profusely on the backs as well. By then gilt bindings had come into fashion in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. The year 1807 saw the arrival of the first gold beater, a Mr. Uffington, from England. By 1819 many structural improvements in bookbinding had developed and binders who were naturally proud of the quality of their work frequently signed their bindings in gold.