ENVOI THE interest which is now taken in fine and historic bindings has led to the production of many elaborate and costly works on the subject. Among them, one of the most important is the illustrated Catalogue of the Exhibition which took place a few years ago at the Burlington Fine Arts Club. There are other works which deal with special departments, or which give selections of coloured facsimiles, but the Burlington F. A. Club's Catalogue is the only one which deals with the whole field of artistic and historical Bookbinding. It may be claimed, without much presumption, that the present Catalogue (although illustrated only in its Large Paper issue) is the only bookseller's list that can be regarded as a parallel to the Club book. It comprises over eight hundred purchaseable examples of bookbinding, chosen either for the beauty (or some other peculiar characteristic) of their coverings, or as furnishing tokens of having belonged to celebrated men and women in the past. The arrangement of the catalogue is chronological, under chorographical headings; and exhibits the gradual advancement of the art of Modern Bookbinding, from its rise in the twelfth century down to the establishment of a kind of general uniform type in the eighteenth. Modern Bookbinding came into existence at the period when the functions of the "forwarder " and the "finisher" were first united in one person, for it was then that the reign of leather coverings began. Of course it was long before the leather triumphed over the ornamental metal-work (frequently decorated with gems) which was used (in Ancient Bookbinding) to embellish the necessary wooden boards; but its usefulness and suitability were gradually made manifest. That it was capable of being made decorative was also shown even at an early time (especially in England) when it was impressed with stamps from engraved plates, so as to exhibit patterns somewhat distantly resembling the designs of the costly metal-work. It was only by a gradual progress in the same direction that the beautiful Italian patterns were arrived at, in the early part of the sixteenth century, which showed what decorative book-binding ought to be. In them, and in the still better French work which was evolved from 'em, we find the true idea and principle which ought to guide the art in all its developments. A book, once arranged and stitched and boarded, may be regarded as a picture ready for its frame, or as a mansion to be entered through a handsome gateway. Figurative as the notion may be, it is one that arises naturally in the mind, and suggests at once the adoption or imitation of ornamental metal-work. Thus, all the productions of the great binders have that character. In the earlier ones (sixteenth century) it is virtually the style of the large and glorious gates which artists in bronze and steel and iron had produced in Italy before the fifteenth century. In the later examples (seventeenth century) elaborate subtlety and delicacy were substituted for the grand simplicity of the previous kind, but the idea of ornamental metal-work was still preserved, although the metal was refined into the forms of lace work or filigree or conventionalised floral shapes, even as the goldsmiths them selves had begun to deal with actual gold and silver. Consequently the fundamental notion was then, and ought to be now, that of a square or rectangular frame, suggeste or expressed, with its rigid lines and angles softened and beautified by the introduction of curves. Some of the men of our own time, strive to achieve an unnatural and preposterous triumph by making the book-cover a picture instead of a picture's frame; and show designs in which flowers or leaves or other figures, admirably natural and clever enough indeed, are seen sprawling in elegant negligence on the side of a book, to the surprise the book itself. Among the volumes of peculiar interest in the present collection are examples of English binding in the twelfth century, and of Flemish and Spanish in the thirteenth those of German and of Italian origin beginning with the fifteenth century, and the French ones with a signed book of Andre Boule, about 1500. There are eight books from Grolier's library, one of them (the Largest Paper Ovid of 1533-34) being perhaps the finest thing of its kind now extant. There are three Maiolis, four Canevaris, one Laurinus; books which belonged to Francis I, Henri II (and his mistress), François II Catherine de Medicis, Henri III, Marguerite de Valois, Louise of Luxembourg, Maris de Medici, Louis XIII (and Anne of Austria), Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI, and various Bourbon princes and princesses. In the English and Scottish department, there are Henry VII, Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth, James I, Henry his son, Charles 1 Charles II, Catherine of Braganza, James II, William III, George of Denmark, George 1 George II's Queen Caroline; besides Thomas Wotton, Fitzalan Earl of Arundel, Land Evelyn, Sunderland, and others. Among foreign names of distinction, there are th Emperors Ferdinand I, Rudolph II, and Joseph; John III of Sweden, Charle Emanuel III of Sardinia; Mesdames de Pompadour and Dubarry. Of famous binder we have beautiful examples of the work of Badier, Boyet, Duseuil, Padeloup and th Deromes in France; of Samuel and Charles Mearne, and of Roger Payne, in England. The catalogue is recommended to the particular attention of all persons of taste. BERNARD QUARITCH. LONDON, January, 1897. G. NORMAN AND SON, PRINTERS, FLORAL STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON. Manx Ballads and Songs, with Music, edited by A. W. MOORE, with Preface by the Rev. T. E. BROWN, and Illustrations by J. M. NICHOLSON, Svo. 300 pp. and the Music, white bds., 8s 6d The book contains over seventy Manx Ballads, with English translations, many of which are now published for the first time, together with an explanation of the Ballads, and an account of the sources from whence they have been taken, by the Editor. Considerably more than half of these Ballads are accompanied by Old Manx Tunes, of which, including Dance Tunes, there are forty-five in all, and, as regards 1896 the greater portion of them, "great care has been taken to obtain these tunes in their original form, and no preconception as to the probability of their having been in Celtic or other modes has been suffered to interfere with a faithful reproduction of the melodic phrases as heard from the lips of their singers." Only a very limited number of copies have been printed, most of which have been taken up by subscription. The Art of William Morris: An Illustrated Record, by AYMER VALLANCE. Imperial 4to. 210 copies only for sale, £9. 98 In this book will be notices of the numerous undertakings with which Mr. Morris's name has been associated before the world, from the formation of the renowned firm of decorators, now known as Messrs. Morris & Co., to the recent establishment of the Kelmscott Press; the many literary works which he has published, whether original writings in prose or verse, translations, or works of joint authorship with others, from the Oxford and Cambridge magazine in 1856 down to the present day; also an account of the part he has played with regard to social and political matters, and of the societies which he has founded or to which he has afforded his valuable support; viz. the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the Art Workers' Guild, and the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, Selections from all branches of Mr. Morris's designs are reproduced, which have been chosen to give representative specimens of every branch of the artist's work-from the most ornate to the most simple, including, by permission, fourteen titles, borders, and other ornaments drawn for the Kelmscott Press, and forty-two fullpage plates of reproductions from various April, 1897 designs carried out at the works he has established. These represent tapestries designed by Mr. Morris himself; carpets, stained glass. some entirely from Mr. Morris's designs; brocades, damasks, silks, chintzes, wall papers, and other fabrics; including those prepared especially for the decoration of St. James's Palace; and many other objects manufactured by the firm of Morris & Co. which have not been reproduced before. Some are lithographed in absolute facsimile from Mr. Morris's own sketches in water-colour, others are reproduced from the actual materials by the most elaborate form of colour-printing by Messrs. W. Griggs and Son. There are also illustrations of houses in which Mr. Morris lived including the Red House, Upton, Bexley, Kelmscott Manor, and Kelmscott House. There is also a very complete and valuable bibliography, by Mr. Temple Scott, which will describe not merely the larger works, but pamphlets, lectures, articles, and correspondence in weekly and daily papers, and other occasional matter, including a complete list, with bibliographical details, of the books issued from the Kelmscott Press. New Publication by The Plainsong and Medieval Music Society. EARLY ENGLISH HARMONY, from the 10th to the 15th Century, edited by H. ELLIS WOOLDRIDGE, Esq., Slade Professor of Fine Art, Oxford; to be published in 2 volumes, subscription price, £2. This work will contain a series of specimens of harmonised English music from the tenth to the fifteenth century, embracing nearly all that exists to the end of the fourteenth century, and closing with the compositions of Dunstable and other English Masters, which are in the Library of the Liceo Musicale at Bologna. The first volume (folio, on thick paper) will consist of sixty plates of Collotype Facsimiles, with Notes on the Tennyson's Maud. Nearly ready, 1897 MSS. from which they are taken. The translations of the Music into modern notation will be published later, but until ready for the press it is impossible to say whether they can be contained in one volume (as it is hoped) or in two. Copies will be numbered, and it is not desired to print more than 10 per cent. in excess of the requirements of Sub scribers. With decorations by WILLIAM MORRIS. Printed on hand-made paper at the Kelmscott Press, 8vo. (pub. at £2. 28), bound in vellum, 258 This Edition, limited to 500 copies, is now dispersed. 1893 A CATALOGUE OF RARE AND VALUABLE BOOKS OFFERED BY BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY, W. ACERBI (J.). Travels through Sweden, Finland, and Lapland, to the North frica: 1802 2 ALEXANDER (Sir J. E.). An Expedition into the Interior of Africa. 2 vols. 8vo., map and several etchings by Heath; in the original cloth, uncut; scarce 1838 Being an account of discoveries in the hitherto undescribed countries of the Great Namaquas, Boschmans, and Hill Damaras. £ s. d. 076 0 15 0 3 BROWN (J. C.). Water Supply of South Africa and Facilities for the Storage of it. 8vo., cloth Edinburgh, 1877 0 7 6 3*CLARKE'S (John) Specimens of Dialects: Vocabularies of Languages; Notes of Countries and Customs in Africa. 8vo., 104 pp. sd. 1849 4 COLENSO. Langalibalcle and the Amahlubi Tribe, being remarks upon the official record of the Trials of the Chief, his Sons and Induna, and other members of the Amahlubi Tribe. 8vo. pp. x and 358, cloth Private, not to be published, 1874 5 DU CHAILLU (P. B.). Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa. 8vo., map and many illustrations; cloth; a beautifully clean copy, 1861 6 HORNEMAN. The Journal of Frederick Hornemann's Travels, from Cairo to Mourzouk, 1797-8. 4to., maps; bds. 1802 7 LATROBE (C. I.). Journal of a Visit to South Africa, in 1815 and 1816. 8 LEO AFRICANUS. The History and Description of Africa. . . by 010 1 5 0 050 026 1 10 0 1 16 0 0 12 0 1893 A valuable contribution to the History and Geography of the African Continent. 10 MOFFAT (R.). Missionary Labours and Scenes in Southern Africa. 8vo., coloured frontispiece and numerous cuts, cloth MOORE. Travels into the Inland Parts of Africa. . . . To which is added, Capt. STIEBE'S Voyage up the Gambia in the year 1723 . . . By FRANCIS MOORE.... 8vo., map and copper-plates; old calf 12 PARK (Mungo). Travels in the Interior of Africa, 1795-1797, with an Appendix by Major Rennell. 4to., portrait, plates, and maps; half russia, uncut 1738 1799 18 PATERSON (W.). A Narrative of Four Journeys into the Country of the Hottentots and Caffraria, 1777-1779. Roy. 4to., map, and 17 coloured plates, chiefly in illustration of Natural History; bds., uncut 0 10 0 086 |