The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-11-14
SOME ULTRA.YINE BINDINGS.

-
The scribners will oren to-day. in their shop
at Firh avenue and TNepty-Gr7t street. he
sixth annual exhibition Of nne 4 iings. foreign
and American, held under their auspices. Ever
sinoe tie work Of the Grolier Club bagsn e.
make Itself felt in a wider demand for
art work In this department this nrm
have set aside every year some scores OF
valuable books worthy Of m elaborate
dress and have distributed them among
the best French, English and American
binders, both men and women. The results
havo grown steadily in VAL 2 aud Interest Vow
that not only New York but Cleveland, Ptiln-
delNhia, Boston and Chicago hava organ cations
similar TO our Gro.isr Club In purpose. tho de-
mand for bindings OF the highest chsrac'e- hG-
grown amazingly, In the opinion ~ experts
no such display az that offered to-da, would
have been possible as n commercial ]spccu"a-
ton ten years ago The American mar
ket for bindings that cost from 500 10 900
for q small volume Ia stll . limited one "a COM
pared with London and Paris, but thai there IL
such q market 10 evident In the extent ~ the
work now shown, which Ia all for sale, and The
growing number OF men nnd women In this
country who sre mahing the art their pro'es-
sion. instruction. in bookbindins OF the Highest
doss 10 sttll dlnicu,t 20 obtain In this country,
where the trade unions perslstcn'ly refuse 70
recognize these art workers. II hos TO DO
sought abroad. and often In the lace Of
,er!ous obstacles. Mss Emily Preston OF
Chicago. who now shows some OF the best
work In the present exhibition. wrote three
years ago 10 Mr.. Cobden-Sanderson. the fore
mos, English binder. asking permission 10 join
his class Notwithstanding a blunt refusal by
cable MisS Preston took the first steamer for
London. applied at the Doves bindery In per-
son and Is now doing such work that she IL
over whelmed with orders. Art binding seems
to be especially suited TO women. nasmuc as
1t requires delicsoy OF touch and tastc
rather thar strength. md II may bs done a.
homo. While the very finest work i. stn done
by Frsnchmsn. among whom the veteran Mer-
Ger stands prominent, distin guishod hiaders
are notoriou,ly untrustvurthy as TO time and
contracts II may be- matter not II months
but Of Year, TO get . book from such masters
as Asrcer. Cruel. Loi tic or David. all great ar
tis,s In their way. who decline 70 be hurried.
In tire present exhibition there are shown
books By seventeen French binders among
them no women; twsnty-four Engiish binders.
four OF them vomor. and eleven American
bindsrs. three OF them womaI. Among -fe
poted volumes may be ,ited The Grolier
Clubs edition OF MRtthews's Modern Book
hrd NJ" done by MsrcIsr in dirk maroon
levant morocco. Will f.leted lines.
rmpi-e pattern sni robin's-egs b'uo
doublure: another MERCER, q kelmscott
Press COPY II Morrls's "Friendship Of Am!s
and Anie." OF brown morocco. with del ate
fllsts intertwined. both volumes showing a
plain eIpsns" OF leather crushed and polished
to the exquisite texture made famous by this
artist Among the o'her Trenchmen Ruban Is
represented by the Kelmscott story OF the
'Gltter.ns Plain" In dark purple morocco,
iniaid with different colored pieces OF gor-
gsous effect: IAon Cruel. W a COPY OF
Keats In cur oissie. the leather being
actually carved in re- ief when frozen solid; Dn-
via, by a Kelmscott Shakespeare. with elaborate
blind tooIiaz. The Dove. bindery ssod a
number Of volumes. OF which the mos, suco-.,-
ful may be a Kelmscott copy Of Keat. in robln's-
EGG b'us, with TIE most delioat. tracary imaa-
Unable Of lilies and stems int,rtwiNcd The hish
price asked FOR this tst?S) ani for others OF tho
Doves contributions. such "a n volume OF
Svinburne $3.50, may bs explained by the
valas ~ the original books. some OF the
Kelnsoott publications now bringing e~Itraor-
dinsry suma. This copy Of 6wtnburne's Sings
Before SUNRISE" first edition. in blue morocco.
with crescent moons In each corner ard
csntrs Of powdered starr. pushes the
Keats hard In point Of dainty effective
ness. Also, smons the English bind
en, Zashnsdorf shows some remarkable
morocco issyi1g after GrolinrssQue d signs.
and Rivltrs. a French binder ssttled 10 London
and employing Fr~nc" workmen. sends a beau
uful oopy Il BrouniuS's Dramatic R omsuos.'
Vale Press. IN blue morocco with oak leaves
and white thorn blossoms. Miss Prdeauy. ,hs
orenost English woman binder, has an admir-
able oopy OF Sponsors "Shepherd's Calendar"
IN brown morocco with tulip blossoms.
or the American binders. beside. 'ho work -
Mise Preston already mentioned. ST KEENAN,
Of Vow Yo-k offers q fne copy of
Michel's "Rlben-' in crimson morocco,
and . Ho!bsin's "Danoe ~ Death Ia
black morocco. with a bordering Of silver
skuls and q cerusyieoA consisting o. a
axe ston beating on he drum, tho figure in
Whit. morooco. zshn Of Memphis, Miss Bulk
ley OF 6 Louis and Macdonald Of Kew York
aiso hsvs notab bic work. Among the novelties
Of the display are some vo'umr- In undyed cow
sktn. rathsr an effective covering. Of = rich rus
set solor. The exhibition VII. 10 o. en- Tor ono
week and 10 fres.