Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-03
OLD BOOK BINDINGS.
SOME HINTS TO COLLECTORS.
Beautiful Examples Noted Artists-fnitiais
OF Ensravers- Decorating as a Work or

BesutifuI Examples Noted Artists-Initiais
Of EnRravers- Decorating as a Work OF
Art.
Mr.. Prime writes to the Journal Of
Commerce as follows:
In my last spoke generally Of some
old bindings. write for those to whom
the subject is new, and shall say much
that is already known to many readers.
Few have failed to read more or less
about - Grolier Bindings" John Gro
lier was Treasurer to Francis l., an
eminent man Of wealth, lover Of books,
a patron Of all arts connected with
book.making in the sixteenth century.
He was fond Of superb boOkbind-
ings, and had his books bound in
magnificent styles. The most character
istic feature of his ornamental covers
was the employment of narrow bands
or ribbons, forming architectural or
geOmetrical patterns, with graceful in
revolutions and interweayings. These
bands were Of brilliant cOlors, white,
red, green, blue, sometimes relieved by
beautiful gold traceries. The book
often looked as if it were inclosed in in
laid work of ivory and Jasper, in rich
mosaic. Of all book bindings these are
most highly priced by collectors, who
are now ready to Pay hundreds of dol
lars for single specimens. A book in
my library, valued there only as a
charming specimen Of the beautiful ty-
biography of Robert Stephens at Paris,
in 1916, has twenty times its money
value as a book, because its binding,
worn, battered and defaced, is still a
specimen, though poor one, of that
gorgeous style.
In the north Of Europe book-lOvers
in general preferred the stamped leather
bindings. And | frankly confess my
higher admiration of them. Quaint,
grotesque as are many OF the designs,
they are an inexhaustible study. Many
have wonderful beauty. The artists
who engraved the punches or dies were
worthy to be ranked high among work
men of the glyptic art.
Perhaps no better example could be
referred to than have on five great
folios of the works OF Melancthon, pub
lished at Wittemberg in the year 1852.
Each Of these books is treasure Of the
art of book-binding. The variety OF
little designs in relief on the covers is
enormous. These designs seem to have
been mostly executed by an artist sign
ing himself c. NJ, and another signing
W. d. The latter executed the work
on the fifth volume, the Chronicon Ca
rionis, which is, in fact, a separate
book. This cover is thirteen and three
quarter inches tall by eight wide. In
the middle are two designs, in impressed
relief, one over the other, each three
and half by two inches. One Of these
represents Death by the Fall of Adam
and the Law of Moses the other, Vic
tory over Death by the AtOnement of
Christ. In the first, the distance shows
Adam and Eve in Eden; nearer is the
brazen serpent; in the foreground
Moses points to the tables of the law,
while Death, a skeleton, and a grotesquc
devil thrust men into gaping hell. In
the second, in the distance a figure
kneels praying on mountain; in the
foreground, one man points another to
the CrucifixiOn, the central figure !;
while lamb and the instruments of
the passion are in front, and on
the right, Christ, rising from
the tomb, tramples on the skeleton
Death, and with his cross, banner
staff, brushes his ribs. Under each
design is a two-lne Latin inscription.
At the sides and top and bottom of this
centre panel band five eighths of an
inch wide is composed of separate dies,
delicious little pieces, representing
Faith, Hope, Charity, Patience, &c.
Some Of these are repeated. Around
this, to the edges of the cover, the
work is tooling in flower and foliage,
and in interlacing bands. Both of the
larger designs, and some of the smaller,
bear the artists signature. The other
cover is similar except that two elabo-
rate heraldic eDgrayings occupy the
middle panel.
Another artist, whose work is Oh the
third volume of this set, signed NJ. c.,
and did some very quaint and interest
ing die-cutting, used on this and other
books. His figures are little short
and broad fol average humanity. For
titude stands on the cover Of Oecono-
mia Bibliorum, Cologne, 1861 with
with one foot turned wholly back on
the ankle, and Hope is forlorn female
wailing on a shore in gale Of wind.
But his little figures Of the Eyangelists
with their emblemS over them are adj
mirable. In this work, as in all old
remains of the fine arts, merit is va
rious.
have small quarto Bible, in ten
volumes, published at Wittemberg
from 1865 to 1874. 1t has been called
the Electoral Edition, and is supposed
to have been designed as a presentation
book. 1t is sumptuous in Typography
and wood-cut illustration. 1t contains
the Latin vulgate, with Luther's Ger
man translation in parallel columns,
Luther's Preface, and preface by
Paul Eber, pastor of the church IN
Wittemberg, dated 1868. My copy
has seen much service, and its once
grand binding is worn and defaced by
much searching of the scriptures
for three hundred years. But the
ten volumes exhibit the varied skill
and taste of the Wittemberg die-cutters
and book binders. Half-length por-
traits Of Luther and Melancthon, each
portrait five by three inches, appear on
the volumes, impressed in gold, sur
rounded by remarkably fine engraved
work of arms and ornaments. Full
length portraits of the same reformers
are on other volumes impressed in the
leather and remaining to-day in unin-
iured relief, surrounded by frames and
bands made up of small engrayingS Of
children, flowers, and other objects
minutely executed. These full-lengths
and many Of the smaller dies, were
| cut by one who signs P. D., with date
1879. The volume was not bound til
five years after it was printed. The first
six volumes are in uniform binding
| Iii III oJooo Tho Iact thrae arr