French Bookbinders, 1789-1848

Printed for the author by Lund Humphries & Co. Ltd, London, first edition, 1950. Cloth, top edge gilt, 4to, 25 cm,. xiv, 228 pp, collotype plates. From the introduction: "The object of this work is not to present a complete or a technical picture of French bookbinding between two dates convenient from a political or a cultural point of view. It is a more modest one, that of gathering together as many facts as possible regarding those craftsmen who contributed substantially to French bookbinding during the period under review (1789 - 1848)...I have listed in the index, which forms the main body of this work, all those who I am reasonably sure 'bound' during the period 1789 - 1848. I have included the more eminent ancillary workers of the bookbinding fraternity, such as gilders, marblers, stitchers, gatherers, restorers, etc., but have, perhaps rather arbitrarily, excluded sellers of varnish, and other furnishings. In connection with those whom I have listed, I have given, wherever available, particulars as to: (i) their Christian names, parentage, etc.; (ii) the dates of their births and deaths; (iii) their addresses; (iv) the years during which they were active; (v) details of their apprenticeships, partnerships, etc.; (vi) references to sources of information, and, on occasion, brief personal appreciations. Covers a little rubbed and marked, and boards slightly splayed, spotting to endpapers and half-title, otherwise Good.