New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-22
THE EXHIB [ TON
AT THE
CRYSTAL PALACE.
xXXSII.
ROOKBINDNG.


very r.ues are cow almost LOST IN the lapse Of AGES
witness the heroglyPhics IN the Egyptian palace
tobs to prove its great antiquity and has been prsc-
ticed uore or lees successfully, By the natis Of mol
eru Europe during several centuries, yet it is only till
within very few years that II has been known in the
Uuted States for though the trade Of bookbinling va.
rrobably introduced into this country contemporaries
ously with tie fiat printing press yetits earliest footing
here as an art dates back OIL! very few years ante
cedent TO which all books were bound, as Hodges
7 ..R szors." (of Peter Pndaric fsme) were m.ie-to
sell and IL each case with result equally affecting
10 Tie purchaser.
II would not perhaps be hszarding too much to 49,
sert that in 10 industrial pursuit has such general
Improvement taken place a. in that under notice.
whether considered in regard TO tie greater stability
Of the Workmanship, the better materials used. or
above all 20 the correct taste displayed At the
present day, both regards the style OF embalisn-
ment and appropriateness Of covering; for prominent
sEwore al other defects yet in this latter essential
wss the greatest necessity for reformation eydent
There's fore it was that American bookbinling gained
rlch fcant commentator ct the Great Exhibition o.:
15l-in feet the criticisms made ii the time in Lon
don were by 10 means encouraging to future compet-
ton The justice Of the condemnation, however. lay
far more in the want OF taste displayed than in the
quality Of the workmanship though il has since been
generally admitted that this latter Wa far from de-
sery.ne to be- considered as favorable specimen Of
what could have been shown by American binders,
many Of whom deemed it folly 70 compete with The Old
and famous houses ia Eu ope where their vocation has
so long attained the dignity Of art and where sam
Iles 81 al styles Of binding, suitable to any Kind Of
work. aye 50 easily accessible wilhelm this country
~ C-g mo
pg such facilities absolutely ignorant OF the names
and origin If the various styles practiccd in Europe
This deficiency in Z knowledge OF the nrst principles
Of tleI sr has prevented many gentlemen OF wealth
and taste wlO have colrced costly libraries, probably
Containing many works oi early date from giving
lat legitimate encourage O. Tie boOhbuder which
in other countries so literally bestowed. the owners
OF such valuable works pTeierIng 10 suffer under the
TeprCacb Uearrogs rather than their highly priced
volumes dlstgured by lnapt and ridiculous OWraff
cOyefss-a modification 10 which several OfOur most
disirg collections have been subjected The
truth o these structures will venture 70 saj not be
disputed by those who mott deeply interested in
this natter the boob binders themselves and although,
ls toOre stated great improvement in taste is per
ceptblo here within two years. especially notice
able in or two instances, yet til the BINDERS
BODY have more thoroughly educated themselves in
knowledge OF heir uade in all It's bearings especially
in tie sdapedncss OF The style OF covering 70 the
tents Of Tie volume to be bound they will do well TO
initiate more closely foreign styles, when they find
tLCmfolyes at a loss. Ii in addition they would
courage competition among themselves, and bestow,
periodically ana permanently honorary rewards upon
fuCh as execute their work in TIE best taste, We
believe the trade would speedily be benefited to
extent little anticipated.
Estimated by tie display in the Crystal Palace, oar
views are, certainly, by means borne out; bur this
arises from the fact that the nations OF Europe with
tie exception Of one two specimens from England,
have not entered the field as rivals We should have
ten pleased 10 have had opportunity OF comparing
tn merits OF our best binders with men OF such epu
tation Beauy Duru, Cape, and other eminent
French artists If the present day and we likewise re-
oret that ile les splendid but substantial works
of the best English houses, such as Hayday, Clarke.
Bedford and others have not single representative at
our Worlds Fair 10 enable Gs to Judge OF their merits
We do Lot find solitary specimen from France, aud
the few from England are, on the whole Inferior to
those in the American department, ana as the British
samples, worthy OF any notice are SO few IN number
We viii proceed 20 dispose of them first
A collection of books exhibited By Mr.. II. G. Bonn,
tie eminent London publisher, affords decidedly the
best samples ofbOohb binding to be found N the English
3erartnept We do not know By what house they
were done as the binders name Is not given, nor DO
We suppose they cent as model specimens 81 Eng
lish workmanship, but merely consist OF random Sc
lection from the large stock Of the exhibitor, and are
placed there, think, rather 70 show the different
sy les adopted il England, for various kinds OF w9rh
than for sry other purpose. Foremost among tins dis
NAV. stands Sclbys British ORTHODOXY in two vol
umes folio bound in green morocco, of beautiful qnal-
ity ard grain. They ornamented with rich bor-
der composed Of heavy rolls and scrolls oil style very
appropriate for large and richlylustratcd works
There are several other foos in this case, all suitably
and richly bouAd, and serving 10 show COCA ahd APP
proprate sty for costly foiOs intended Tor valuable
Libraries many binders, exhibitors and other" sc,
might also profit considerably 10y examining the smaller
looks containing sundry volumes OF bohns classical
and standard Libraries in call extra, caf antique
and other bindings suitable for library editions A.
mere specimens they by no means remarkable, sim
they generally look well and all in correct taste
Mr. Seten If Edinburgh, has large folio volume.
entitled Scotland Delineated. Which az least sue
ceeds in attracting the attention Of most persons IN that
department Of the building IL is bound IN red mOroc-
co and uaid with what appear 10 have been origin
aly white morocco The arms of Scotland are stamp
Cd in the center, and border IN which the National
th se predomnaes forms the design for the side while
several occeEastical etices attempted to be dein
/ Gated en- TIE edges. Tie sides sunk IN panel and
this remarkable book IL completed by tie addition 81
large metal Gilt corners. All this work IL, IN our Op d
ion utterly suptrfuous, and by INDUCING II the bind
er departs from his leatimsIe sphere Compare this
book with the foos IN Bohhs case IN the one every
thing attempted and nothing Effected the others are
models Of simple elegance No binder ever vet sue
coc6ed and probably viii, in producing gothic
churches or landscapes the edges or outside Of h
bcoks Such worknen should bear in mind that the
proper place for illustrations is the interior Of the
+ volume
We are much indebted 10 Mr.. Ruii. Of LONDON, for
his specimens Of binding, o. lie has shown US how II
dculous snd ugly thorough master Of bis trade. as
this exhibitor 10 doubt - can contrye 10 render a
hook They consist of various WORKS 10 paper sheep,
calf and wcod-we should probably give a more cor
rect dea by descrbrG the latter specimens in tim
ber-srd are apparently placed there solely with the
generous motive Of allowing the surrounding