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Reprint. Hard cover, 12mo, 199 pp. In a near-contemporary, unsigned, fine binding which pays stylistic homage to the work of Thomas Cobden-Sanderson and the Doves Bindery's often-imitated "modern style." Probably produced before the First World War. Brick red morocco, all edges gilt. Both front and rear boards have extensive gilt decoration consisting of a single line border within which are ten Tudor roses, intertwined stems, sets of three rose leaves, and a symmetrical dot pattern. This border encloses a central diaper pattern of yet more, smaller, rose leaf sprigs. Interestingly, the Tudor rose stamp used on the spine is different to the one on the boards. Both roses resemble, but do not match, those used by the Doves Bindery, (cf. Tidcombe, The Doves Bindery, catalogue nos. 210, 210a and 543. ) Another clue to the "homage" theory is the unusually arranged spine. There are two raised bands enclosing three compartments of graduating size, instead of the usual five of equal size. A non-symmetric floral Tudor rose and leaf decoration used on the head and foot, and author's name in the central compartment. The typeface (especially the "E" used for the author's name, may indicate a later date for the binding as it reads more art deco in style. Elaborate gilt turn-ins and moiré silk doublures. Tidcombe states that many of the notable English bookbinders of the day, from the Guild of Women-Binders, to Zaehnsdorf, and Sangorski and Sutcliffe imitated and reinterpreted the original designs of Cobden-Sanderson, and that as long as the tooling (or a false signature) were not used to deceive, that a "copy" was not in the same category as a "fake." (Tidcombe , ibid., Appendix III.) I am confident that this was not the intention here. Condition: Near Fine. Slight uniform age toning. There are a few small spots of foxing on the endpapers, and the silk is coming loose at the rear. Also, there are two leaves with small extra flaps in the introductory pages, which do not affect the text. Spine is slightly darkened. Otherwise, this volume is immaculate, as the photos show. It is a beautiful book.
Ref: FINE 7595
$975.00