New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-01
FRENCH BOOK BINDINGS.
An Interesting Exhibition at the
BondUenture GALLERY.

A notable collection of French bindings is now
| to be seen at the Bonaventure Galleries in West
| Thirty-third-st. 1t is made up of works by
! Lortfc David Trautz- Bauzonnet Sinner. and
| many more craftsmen whose productions are
| Justly famous. Conspicuous among them is a
| volume of Dorat's Les Basers,' in the first
large paper Q17M edition. with the title page
printed in red and black. It is bound in green
levant morocco with delicate gold filets on the
covers and the inside double with blue Ievant
morocco. roses being interpreted in the design
Of crossed torches supporting dove, the whole
a noble example of Lortc's work Lortic is
seen TO advantage also in his binding of a copy
of Montesquieu's lie Temple de Gnide' the
binding being red levant morocco double with
blue. with framework of characteristic eigh-
teenth century panels. The book itself is illus
trated with charming engra wings by lie Mire.
after designs by Eisen. A delightful example
of Trautz- Bauzonnet's binding is seen on a large
paper copy of Dorat's Fables Nouvelles." done
in blue morocco with tooling repeating one
of the ornaments, found page 81, of the text
, Inside the binding is double with lemon morocco.
with an intricate lace border. This volume
comes from the collection of the famous biblio-
phiIe Quentin Banchart. and brought $3.50
francs at the sale of his library. Mention mus.
be made also of a rare Bouillon edition of Vol
taires Romans ct Confess in three volumes
uncut, from the library of Henri Beradi with
the engravings in the proof state, and contain
ing inserted an autograph poem and an auto
graph letter by Voltaire. The binding is beau
tiful specimen of Cuzns work.
While much of the pleasure that derive
from artistic binding is in its appropriate as
ISOLATION with worthy book and fine printing
the dainty and often whimsical fancy OF the
eighteenth century binders found frequent eX
preston in binding for its own sake. and many
exquisite examples shown in this collection
serving to cover unimportant little books. such
as almanacs. diaries and the like and even to
mask quantity contrived boxes and cabinets
Among the former some ornate designs by
Pasdeloup. and others by Monnier. of finely in
laid morocco covered over with mica Interesting
examples OF the latter a little needle case
in the shape OF small book of English make
entitled Palmer on Needles" and a large cabi-
net. apparently set of volumes. entitled Sc
crets de Toilets but in reality a makeup
box of an eighteenth century lady of fashion
A quaint little edition of Benjamin Frank
Inns Poor Richards Almanac" translated into
Italian, carries the portrait of the author a
silk covered ornamented with gilt embroidery In
an elaborate design. Among the exhibits having
especial historical association are the private
writing cases of Louis Philippe and his wife,
Marie Amelie, interesting examples Of ThOuve-
Minis work in the first half of the last century.
The Queens portfolio is bound in full purple
morocco. but blind fooled and ornamented with
arde scroll gilt borders. On the front is Obong
inlay of red levant morocco. bearing the royal
initial and crown. the case being fastened with
a richly engraved cathedral pattern clasp.