New-York tribune., 1896-01-04

business and gives a review or modern ilustra-
tions which Is ample and discreet The numerous
reproductions are well made. ana the book.
while unsyminctrcal. as has been shown. VIII
be- gladly welcomed AZ a substitute IN some sort
for the authors larger ,and. may add. much
better volume on Pen Drawing and Pen
Draughtsmen'
We had feared that Professor Brandcr Mat
thews would prove "scrappy." too. in his Book
bindings. Old and New" ior he promises on hs
first page rambling impressions and stray sus-
gestions about the great bookblpders Of the past"
and one could not be sure that ne would be any
more concentrated and thorough in dealing Win
the present. But the collection - essays here
presented has compactnrss after all. and. how
ever much he may have strayed. Professor
Matthews evidently set out with the intention Of
giving his readers some useful Information. This
he has done and in q way In please at once the
specialist and the general reader. He is technical
when need be as in his interesting notes on the
actual evolution Of a book. at the outset Of his
review OF modern work. but he is y -vcr pedantc
nor obscure, and many a reader Will thank him
for making clear the details Of the oookbinders
art which most writers seem willing to smother
in the jargon Of the shop. The scheme of the
book also is commendable First there are some
entertaining pages about men like Groer and
DE Thou, Padeloup ANA others Of the same char
acter. and then after the practical chapters to
which We have referred Professor Matthews
takes up the popular bindings Of our day. the
paper covers provided for modern novels and
magazines. and winds up his little lectures with
an account OF the Groler Club. centre of
book loving enthusiasts in New-York His H.
Illustrations are many and we'll made, and
think Professor Matthews will find large circle
of readers interested in his book one point We
regret in the work. 1t reveals hearty admra
ton for Mr.. Cobden-Sanderson bindings, and.
while understand that boolloye- might
: respect this binders skill a workman. can
not understand how an fastidious student OF
bindings could regard the productions Of tho
English decorator with anything but the mos.
earnest repugnance. Cobden-Sanderson might
/ have made good designer Of wallpaper or bro
cades but as a dresser of books he has the in
stincts OF a milliner and the taste of candyman.
Avaunt Professor Matthews. Expungc the Of
Tending craftsman from your pages.
While we are praising Professor Matthews for
the good sense and practical character Of his
book, the whole may offer similar words
of approval TO Mr. John Ninycomb the author Of
a little manual on the production Of book plates.
This is treatise which first the light in
the Journal Of the Ex Iibrs Society Of London
gist Of the book is technical. and in far he
follows an historical scheme blr. Vinycomb does
So in order to show how various methods have
been applied in different times and places 10 the
preparation of the book p'aIe. He touches upon
wood engraving copper and steel engraving the
different kinds Of lithography and process
work in their relation his subject and his
book Will be appreciated for the hints it gives 10
the book-lov as to the choice lying before him
in the matter Of his mark Of ownership 1t is
, amusing to find once more on reading Mr. Why
combs text. how this recen, fad Of the ex-librs
nend goes far back in the history of books The
Germans knew 1t centuries ago. and there IS
something very pert and funny in the juxtapos!-
tion of many Of modern book plates with
those OF Durer and others OF his time Mr.. Niny-
comb disengages the technical processes under
lying the bOOk-plates OF all epOchs. and re-
peat. he will be found most suggestive author
ity by those who wondering what form Of
adornment TO decide upon for the inside Of their
book covers.
The engaging volume called The Book-Huntcr
in London" wherein Mr ". Roberts has packed
an immense amount of bookish lore and biblio-
maniacal information. is really volume of subli-
mated gossip. il is gossip Of that sort which the
most inveterate gOssip-hater will forgive. IT is
the drifting talk Of man who he's loved books
long hunted them with ard)r and with the ten
derness which belongs to even the most inexorr
able o. bargainers He knows his subject we'll
and he has filed his pages with facts ~ the sor,
which only your bbliomanac in eXcelsis values
| as they should be valued. Al the time there
is much that is calculated 10 benefit the tyro In
this volume-much relating to auction rooms ana
the methods OF book collectors which in the
hands of intelligent reader will take the
place. for time at least Of actual experience in
the English capita, Then there is a host Of
anecdotes abont modern collectors. booksellers
and photographed folk generally, stories ~
which all Of us must take an interest one alone
have We space to paraphrase. There was a GER
tain rare tract Of DefOe's needed by certain
editor. and he went to inquire about It of a GER
tain "Old Brown a bookseller. who was sup
posed know a good deal about the hiding places
Of such rarties NO. said Brown, on being
asked If he had a copy Of the tract II have not a
copy. and l don't know where You are likely TO
find one. But If You do meet with one You VIII
have TO pay pretty handsomely for it, AS the
searcher left the shop turned the rub
bish in the sixpenny box and selected 4 volume
handing "Old Brown" a sixpence "Thank You,
SIR" said Brown "by-the-bye what Is it?' 1T Is
a tract by Defoe," replied the purchaser as
he marched off, to "Od Browns" infinite dis.
comfture. with the very book he had been
hunting for snugy tucked under his arm. Mr..
Roberts has many tales like this to tell and,
though he is rather voumnous and might
have written with lighter hand have no
serious objection TO make against THE Book
Hunter in London" That is pleasant vol
ume, and we'll worthy Of the good press
work and illustrations given il by the publishers
OF that beautiful and even monumental perl
odcal called "Bibliographica" we have received
Parts VI and VII and in both find the
now familiar charm Of the best of bibliographl-
al ruapazines The editors maintain an Ad-