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by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf
Published in London 1897
Bookbinders Grolier, Roger Payne, and Derome
know as “Grolier” were produced in Venice, under the eye of
Grolier himself, and according to his own designs; and that
workmen in France, soon rivaled and excelled the early
attempts. The work of Maioli may be distinctly traced by the
bold simplicity and purity of his designs; and more especially is
the broader gold lines which margin the colored bands of
geometric and arabesque ornamentation.
All books, it must be understood, were not bound in so costly a
manner, for we find pigskin, vellum and calf in use. The latter
was especially preferred on account of its peculiar softness,
smooth surface, and great aptitude for receiving impressions of
dumb or blind tooling. It was only towards the latter part of the
sixteenth century that the English binders began to employ
delicate or fine tooling.
minuteness of their finishing. Not disdaining the bindings of the Italian school, they took from them new ideas; for
whilst the Grolier bindings were bold, the Du Sueil and Le Gascon more resembled fine lace work of intricate design,
with harmonizing flowers and other objects, from which we may obtain a great variety of artistic character. During
this period embroidered velvet was much in use. Then a change took place and a style was adopted which by some
people would be preferred to the gorgeous bindings of the sixteenth century. The sides were finished quite plainly
with only a line round the edge of the boards (and in some instances not even that) with a coat of arms or some
badge in the centre.
Towards the end of the seventeenth century bookbinding began to improve, particularly with regard to forwarding.
The joints were true and square, and the back was made to open more freely. In the eighteenth century the names
of Derome, Roger Payne, and others are prominent as masters of the craft, and the Harleian style was introduced.
The plate facing may be fairly estimated as a good specimen of Derome. Notice the extreme simplicity and yet the
symmetry of design; its characteristic feature being the boldness of the corners and the gradual diminishing of the
scroll work as it nears the centre of the panel. Morocco and calf were the leather used for this binding.
Hand colored calf was at this period at its height, and the Cambridge calf may be named as a pattern of one of the
various styles, and one that is approved of by many at the present day – the calf was sprinkled all over, save a
square panel left uncolored in the centre of the boards.
The Harleian style took its name from Harley, Earl of Oxford. It war red morocco with a broad tooled border and
centre panels. We have the names of various masters who pushed the art forward to very great excellence during
this century. Baumgarten and Benedict, tow Germans of considerable note in London; Mackinly,
by whom good workmen were educated whose
specimens almost equal the work of their master.
There were to other Germans, Kalthoeber and
Staggemeier, each having his own peculiar style.
Kalthoeber is credited with having first introduced
painting on the edges. This I must dispute, as it was
done in the sixteenth century. To him, however, must
certainly be given the credit of having discovered the
secret, if ever lost, and renewing it on his best work.
We must now pass on to Roger Payne, that
unfortunate and erring man but clever workman, who
lived during the latter part of the eighteenth century.
His taste may be seen from the woodcut. He
generally used small tools, and by combining them
formed a variety of beautiful designs. He cut most of
these tools himself, either because he could not find a
tool cutter of sufficient skill, or that he found it difficult
to pay the cost.
notwithstanding all his irregular habits, his name ought to be respected for
the work he executed. His back were firm, and his forwarding excellent; and
he introduced a class of finishing that was always in accordance with the
character of subject of the book. His only fault was the peculiar colored
paper with which he made his end papers.
Colored or fancy calf has now taken the place of the hand-colored cloth has
come so much into use, that this branch of the trade alone monopolizes
nearly three-fourths of the workmen and females employed in bookbinding.
Many other substitutes for leather have been introduced, and a number of
imitations of morocco and calf are in the market; this, with the use of
machinery, has made so great a revolution in the trade, that it is now
divided into two distinct branches – cloth work and extra work.
I have endeavored in the foregoing remarks to raise the emulation of my
fellow craftsmen by naming the most famous artists of past days; men
whose works are most worthy of study and imitation. I have refrained from
any notice or criticism of the work of my contemporaries; but I may venture
to assure the lover of good bookbinding that as good and sound work, and
as careful finish, may be obtained in a first-rate house in London as in any
city in the world. In the succeeding chapters, I will endeavor in as plan and
simple a way as I can to give instructions to the unskilled workman how to
bind a book.
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