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BOOKBINDERS AND THEIR CRAFT.
(New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1903). 245 x 165 mm. (9 3/4 x 6 1/2"). vii, [4], 298, [2] pp. No. 227 OF 500 COPIES of the First American Edition.
Very attractive red crushed morocco by Zaehnsdorf (stamp-signed on front turn-in) covers and spine compartments framed by multiple gilt rules, raised bands, gilt lettering, wide turn-ins with multiple gilt rules, red silk endleaves, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. In a (slightly chipped and faded) red buckram dust jacket. With numerous black & white illustrations. A Large Paper Copy. Tiny chip and one-inch crack to head of rear joint, a thin crack just beginning along front joint, extremities lightly rubbed, but an appealing copy, clean and fresh internally with generous margins, in a finely crafted, very lustrous binding.
This is a classic work by a woman Tidcombe describes as "one of the first people to write intelligently in English on both contemporary and historical bookbinding," offered here in a binding by the famed workshop where she got her start. Sarah Treverbian Prideaux (1853-1933) began binding when she was 31, training in London under Zaehnsdorf and in Paris under Gruel, and worked for 20 years. She was very interested in the history of the craft and in the techniques of earlier binders. Tidcombe says she "knew more about the history of bookbinding, both trade, and non-trade, than other binders," a knowledge that was an asset to her both when she bound and when she taught and lectured on binding. She wrote a number of articles in the 1890s for "The Bookbinder" and the "The Library" in the U.K., and for "Scribner's Magazine" in the U.S. Eight of these articles are collected here: "Some English and Scottish Bindings of the Last Century," "Characteristics and Peculiarities of Roger Payne, Binder," "Les Relieures Français," "Design in Bookbinding," "Some French Binders of To-day," "Early Stamped Bindings," "Early Italian Bindings," and "Some Notes on Pattern-making." Hungarian-born binder Joseph Zaehnsdorf (1816-86) served his apprenticeship in Stuttgart, worked at a number of European locations as a journeyman, and then settled in London, where he was hired first by Westley and then by Mackenzie before opening his own workshop in 1842. His son and namesake took over the business at age 33, when the senior Joseph died, and the firm flourished under the son's leadership, becoming--and remaining for many years--a leading West End bindery. The present example of their work features very high quality material, meticulous finishing, and an overall elegance. (ST19567-028)
Price: $950.00