Sotheby's (London), Baron Horace de Landau (1824-1903) sale, 12-13 July 1948… at least 7 of the Landau books are here at Bridwell Library, if you’d like a list.

 

Eric White

Bridwell Library

 

 

From: Mailing list for rare books and Special Collections librarians [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Patrick Crowley
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: Assistance with a book description

 

Erica,

 

As far as page layout, this sounds exactly as the Paradise Lost example at Bryn Mawr. In my case, the margins were very tightly trimmed back in the contemporary bound copy. The other, untrimmed copy is in a 20th century binding, leading me to believe that it was not 

 

When I first cataloged it, I looked at the watermarks and it seemed that they were the same and in approximately the same position on the page, assuming a larger format in the trimmed copy. While I'm not a paper expert, I think that the untrimmed copy in my case represents the size of the original unbound sheets which the trimmed copy contains. 

 

Best,

 

Patrick

 

P.S. Incidentally, I only noticed after looking at your blog that I have you to thank for the CERL provenance query that allowed me to identify my Horace de Landau booklabels. It seems like that collections has scattered to the four corners. I'd love to have a database of where it all ended up!

 

On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 12:15 PM, Erica Foden-Lenahan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Thank you all for your comments and references. I am going back to my Gaskell and Carter before I finish the record, to see what they have to say.

Eric and Robert, I found the large paper idea would make sense for a presentation copy, except that the text is not centred, it is close to the spine and up in the top left corner, as it would be if bound as a smaller volume. So the margins are by no means aesthetically proportioned. Also the pages are roughly the same size but in many cases there are 2-3 cm difference.

Thank you Patrick for giving me some ideas about phraseology, that is very helpful.

I really appreciate all the assistance. There are many notes to make. In addition to the initial provenance, the book is ex libris Richard C Jackson, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and bears his elaborate bookplate. The binding is also curious. It is brown cloth, but has bevelled edges as one would have seen in much earlier bindings with wooden boards. The spine and left board have been stamped with the title, etc. consistent with the other copy we hold, although that cloth is a wine colour, than brown. I wonder if they had the boards spare and as a quick binding on the textblock to be sent courtesy of the author, the publisher improvised. With the cloth stamped with a quite elaborate central ornament incorporating the initials of Michelangelo and Raphael, the same as the other copy we have, would suggest that it was not a personal binding but one undertaken by the publisher. But I won't bore you with any more curiousities.

Best wishes,
Erica

Erica Foden-Lenahan, Special Collections Librarian (p-t)

Book Library, The Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7848 7650    Email: [log in to unmask] 

www.courtauld.ac.uk; blog.courtauld.ac.uk/booklibrary

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Robert McLean <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 29 April 2013 17:30
Subject: Re: Assistance with a book description

To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>, "White, Eric" <[log in to unmask]>


Erica,
Think Eric is probably right. Gaskell (New Introduction to bibliography) calls these copies on 'special paper' and discusses them in the chapter on presswork (page 136 in my copy). He also mentions it in his bibliography of the Foulis Press I think. Apparently quite common in 18c but presumably continues for purposes of presentation copies after end of handpress period?

Bob MacLean


P.s. sorry for the off-list reply - the listserv doesn't seem to recognise me today!

--------------------------------------------
Robert MacLean
Principal Library Assistant

Direct line: +44(0)141 330 5632
Fax: +44(0)141 330 3793

Department of Special Collections
Library
University of Glasgow
Hillhead Street
Glasgow G12 8QE

www.lib.gla.ac.uk

http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/specialcollections/

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--

Patrick Crowley

Cataloging Assistant

Rare Books and Special Collections

Bryn Mawr College