Guide to understanding bindings shop for books, art. This volume is an example of a portable medieval book, designed to hang from a. Colonnas hypnerotomachia poliphili, 1499, in a fine 16th century antwerp binding by claus van duermale. Library binding subject to rigorous standards library binding specifications were first established in 1923, and continued to evolve and formalize through the efforts of a dedicated standards body. Master bibliography of online resources this master list includes research resources, exhibitions, and collections information relating to the study and appreciation of publishers bindings. French bookbindings at the worth edward worth library. Grolier grolier ornamentali hardcover journals paperblanks. Jean groliers first library and his ownership marks before 1540, new york. Some 400 of these grolier bindings have survived, and each is marked. The club, which has roughly 800 members, is named for jean grolier, a 16thcentury french high official and book collector known for commissioning. Jean grolier was among historys most discerning book collectors, possessing one of the finest private libraries of his time. Library binding can be divided into the two major categories of original and after market. Bindings in the spotlight 8 trinity college library.
Most of his books were printed in italy often venice or basle and the bindings were usually from milanese and parisian workshops. Cambridge university press, this book studies, and compares, two sixteenthcentury libraries. Jean grolier is one of the great figures of book collecting and bookbinding history. Grolier has been called the prince of bibliophiles.
Collection of books on bookbinding and related trades, belonging to r. Books are bound in all manner of materials including various papers, cloths, hides and even metals to increase aesthetic appeal or durability. Artists books and bindings represent the bibliophile end of library collecting, and the newberry is particularly rich in both historic bindings and modern book objects that continue the tradition of creating the book beautiful books of hours are prayer books to be read privately, at prescribed times of the day. Groliers splendid library of approximately 3,000 volumes remained as a. One is on the opera omnia of joannes baptista mantuanus vulgo battista spagnuoli printed in bologna in 1502 by benedictus hectoris, the other on.
Some database entries are accompanied by literature fields, citing published descriptions or research into that particular binding. Early in the clubs history, library acquisitions tended to emphasize books and prints illustrating the book arts. A collection of facsimiles from examples of historic or. The books which grolier acquired in his early years including many of his.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Grolier invested quite a bit into filling his library with beautifully bound volumes, and the books in his library had a unique style. Bibliography of materials related to the bindings image. See bookbindings from the library of jean grolier, london, 1965. Grolier possessed one of the finest private libraries of his time and possibly any. Jean grolier developed his first library during his initial deployment as. These include two executed for the celebrated bibliophile jean grolier 1489901565, and an example of a. The original category is as it says, it was originally bound with the idea that the book would be used in a library setting where the book would receive harder use than those usual trade editions sold to the public the after market library binding is the method of binding serials, and rebinding. This book, first published in 1999, studies and compares two sixteenthcentury libraries.
Groliers books were richly bound in morocco or calf decorated with intricate designs in gold and colours. External links british library search on grolier for images and catalogue entries for over 30 bindings owned by grolier, and others in the style. You can view a random selection of bindings images in the picture gallery. Although jean grolier is regarded correctly as a french bibliophile, the bindings executed for. He served france as a diplomat in italy, and returned to his native country with new designs for bindings, which he commissioned in paris in the early sixteenth century. He had his books bound in wonderful bindings covered in renaissance decoration of different designs. Design binding today february 19 april 25, 2020 please note. In the woodcut illustrations some of the heads and bodies are repeated in different combinations to provide many portraits. Bindings in the spotlight 6 trinity college library. Guide to understanding bindings the binding of a book describes the material that is used to make the upper front and lower back covers. Grolier bindings were mostly produced in paris in the mid16th century, with many lovely examples featuring interlaced and patterned designs, often. The grolier club library was founded in 1884 as a reference library for the clubs bibliophile membership. As part of our ongoing work, we plan to revise this.
Nixon classes bindings similar to ours as group iia of wotton bindings, while foot. The extensive catalogue lists books from the library of jean grolier, providing author, title, editor, imprint, size, provenance, booksellers, catalogues of private libraries and auction. The original owner of the book was jean grolier 14791565, a french bibliophile and book collector. Jean grolier, the prince of bibliophiles us toll free. Bindings of the sixteenth century in transitional style 5. A design binding is a singularlyconsidered and beautifully executed book coveringa unique work of.
Buy bookbindings from the library of jean grolier by the british museum. Some 400 of these grolier bindings have survived, and each is marked distinctly with two latin phrases. The database is a work in progress and its scope will be widened as resources allow. Book collectors have always paid great attention to the bindings of books. The collection of book bindings includes prints with valuable, historically or artistically important bindings from the historical collection groups, which are preserved separately, bearing the classification mark eslg and the formerly allocated classification mark. The binding of a book describes the material that is used to make the upper front and lower back covers. From the library of jean grolier by gabriel austin the princeton university library owns two volumes from the library of jean grolier, the 16thcentury treasurer of france and amateur of bindings. The collection was built up by otto glauning 1876 1941 starting in 1905. The grolier club, which takes jean grolier as its patron, has a number of grolier bindings in its collection, as well as other objects connected with the great bibliophile. The collections also hold a wide variety of nonscottish bindings, including many 15th and 16thcentury blindstamped and panel bindings, early goldtooled bindings.
The british librarys bindings catalogue attributes a number of bindings to picard. Those who want to read more about wotton bindings are now directed to h. The british library database of bookbindings default. The grolier club was named for jean grolier, the renaissance collector who was renowned for his patronage of scholars and printers, for the magnificent bindings he commissioned, and for a generous habit of sharing his library with. The outcome is frequently a substantial compromise in product quality with common incidences of split bindings, warped book covers and delamination. The bibliography includes books and essays that discuss grolier bindings in different collections, in addition to contemporary references to jean grolier. Bookbindings from the library of jean grolier the british museum on. Many presentday styles are due to the preference shown by such famous collectors as tommaso maioli, of italy, and jean grolier, of france, in the early part of the sixteenth century. The librarys partner, the national library of the netherlands has contributed some of its unparalleled dutch bindings.
Nixons twelve books in fine bindings from the library of j. May be the earliest binding acquired by grolier in italy. Our copy is in a contemporary roman binding, and it once belonged to the great. Both men were greatly influenced by experience of italy.
This milanese binding in morocco, decorated with medallions. The trinity binding has two fantastical, coiled, male and female figures joined at the shoulders and the tail. Grolieri et amicorum latin for the property of jean grolier and his. Jean grolier french book arts from the collections of the grolier. A loan exhibition 23 september 31 october 1965 author.
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