New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-11

almost convinces US that a purely decorative
conception is legitimate in this field. The vol
ume entitled Paris qui Consomme" offers
case in point. The superb cover Of copper col
ored levant is unadorned the sides save for
two or three small birds in gold, designed and
placed with something of that feeling which
belongs 10 a japanese print This is work
extraordinarily delicate and charming There
is something very engaging, too, about the little
edition of Lofts Madame Chrysantheme," bound
in exquisite gray blue levant. with a dainty
nickel plaque in relief by Falguiere inlaid in
the cover. The color scheme is beyond praise.
Yet one cannot help thinking of how the merest
change in what may call the superstructure
Of the design would transform it into perfect
jewel casket NJ. Meunier. in short. is by instinct
a decorator, concerned generally 10 get an effect
having nothing do with those laws which we
associate with bookbinding in its purest estate.
He takes a copy Of Octave Uzannes La Deco
ration Extereure des Livres." and on the gori-
Gus surface of the cover he places design
which is, no doubt as the catalogue says, sym
bonc of the theme of the book but ii reminds
in its extreme freedom of form of nothing
so much as of the stamp which we used to see
in the middle of the cover of old fashioned
gift book
All of this is delightful, If likes this sort
of thing. Whether one likes it or not. the re-
NJ
must be cordially admitted He may be more Of
a decorator than a designer Of bookbinding;
his taste in color may sometimes seem unre-
fined ard even positively crude. but that he is
a master of his instruments there is no gainsay-
ing. Inside and out his bindings represent the
quintessence of luxury and the last word of
durability. Even the uneven surfaces of those
bindings which he has executed in chiselled
leather have been rendered. by some secret Of
craft so firm that only the toughest usage would
be likely to deface them. Here and there is
book, like the tiny copy Of La Nome Alferez,"
IN dark violet levant, unornamented. which has
the soft perfection of a pearl; fawess material
is flawlessy treated in il. Indeed. we are con-
stantly regretting that NJ. Meunier does not
produce fewer bindings of the decorative sort
and more of these masterpieces of sheer sim
plicity. But that there is a demand for the
bizarre binding, as there is a demand for the
wallpaper and candy box motives Of Golden
Sanderson and his school, is plain enough.
There are books in this collection which are
catalogued at nearly 81 600 and do not doubt
that they will speedily be sold. They will be
sold of course. chiefly for the sake of the bind
ings, yet the interest of many book here re-
sides largely in the qualities of the presswork
illustrations and so In many cases there
are extra illustrations. original water colors in
serted special portraits and autographs The
copy of Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Nal" con-
tains autogra phs and two sets Of unpublished
plates; the copies of Poes Histories Extra
ordinares" and "Nouvelles Histories Extra
ordinares" contain original water colors, and
have the plates in two states; there is a water
color in each volume of the copy of Rabelais,
and among the seventy-two books shown, in
fact there would appear to be few. if any,
which lack some special element of attraction
for the collector. Tile exhibition will remain
on view for some time, and 1t should be seen by
every one interested IN the modern side of the
bookbinder's craft