Book History, Education, Learning & Printing / Bindings

VIRGILIUS MARO, Publius. Opera. Vol. I.
London, John Pine, 1755 [= actually some years later]. 8vo. With 2 different vignettes on the otherwise identical engraved title pages, an engraved frontispiece with a figure of the muse Euterpe, 2 engraved dedication leaves with vignettes, 1 folding and 49 full-page engraved plates on 39 leaves (11 of the leaves with a plate on each side), 31 engraved half-page plates and historiated head- and tailpieces, engraved historiated and decorated initials. Some of the images are derived from the illustrations in the Codex Vaticanus, a 5th-century codex containing the works of Virgil. Late-19th-century gold-tooled crushed red morocco, bound by the famous partnership of René Chambolle (1834-1898) and Hippolyte Duru (1803-1898) (with their names gold-stamped in the bottom front turn-in). The boards show a double fillet frame with detailed, ornate flowers and vines along the inside of the frame, with the author, title, and imprint lettered in gold on the gold-tooled spine, gold-tooled board edges and turn-ins, gilt top edge, marbled endpapers. The binding can be dated between 1861 and ca. 1870, the heyday of the Chambolle-Duru partnership representing the high level of the Golden Age of French bibliophile binding. [8], XV, [2], 144, [6] pp. Full description

WELCKER VON GONTERHAUSEN, Heinrich. Neu eröffnetes Magazin musikalischer Tonwerkzeuge, dargestellt in technischen Zeichnungen alle Saiten-, Blas-, Schlag-, & Friktions- Intrumente unter Aufnahme der neusten Verbesserungen und darauf bezüglichen statistischen Notizen, nebst geschichtlicher Uebersicht der Musik und Instrumente vom ersten Ursprung bis in die jetztzeit, mit specieller Beschreibung ihres Baues, Tonumfangs und fasslicher Angabe ihrer Behandlung und Erhaltung.
Frankfurt, im Selbst-Verlag des Verfassers (printed by Reinhold Baist), 1855. Large 8vo. With a lithographed frontispiece, 140 lithographed illustrations in the text, and 3 folding lithographed plates. Contemporary gold foil stamped burgundy velvet, with the author and title in gold on the spine, an elaborate decorative frame on both boards, surrounded by a wide single fillet frame, gilt edges, white watered silk endpapers. The work is housed in a red cloth solander box. 439, [3] pp. Full description

[WETSTEIN, George]. Het gelukkig ongeval. Bly-eindend treurspel.
Amsterdam, Heirs of J. Lescailje en Dirk Rank, 1721.
With:
(2) IDEM. Erik, Prins van Zweden. Treurspel.
Amsterdam, Heirs of J. Lescailje and Dirk Rank, 1722.
(3) IDEM. Gustavus Adolphus. Koning van Zweden, beschermer der Duitsche vryheit. Oorlogspel.
Amsterdam, Heirs of J. Lescailje and Dirk Rank, 1723. 3 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Each work with an engraved frontispiece, the original preliminary ink drawing for the frontispiece, protected by tissue paper guards, and an engraved device on the title page. Contemporary gold-tooled olive morocco, with a red morocco title label lettered in gold on the spine lettered, bound by the so-called Fleur-de-Lis Bindery (The Hague 1729-ca. 1756; Storm van Leeuwen, IIA, pp. 110-117). With the coat of arms of Aaron de Joseph de Pinto in the centre of both boards, tooled onto a red morocco inlay of the same shape, surrounded by richly ornamental borders with the crowned monogram of De Pinto (ADJP) in the corners, the same monogram repeated in 5 of the 6 compartments on the spine, gold-tooled board edges and turn-ins, gilt edges, marbled endpapers. 88; 83; 87 pp. Full description

WINSEMIUS, Pierius. Chronique ofte historische geschiedenisse van Vrieslant. Beginnende vanden jaere nae des Werelts scheppinghe 3635. ende loopende tot den jaere nae de gheboorte Christi.
Franeker, Jan Lamrinck, 1622. Folio. With an engraved allegorical title page, a large engraved coat of arms of the province of Friesland, a large folding engraved map of Friesland, 3 folding engraved plans. Further with (in the text) 49 half-page, full-length engraved portraits, 2 engraved costume plates, 2 plans of sieges, 1 view 6 seals and coats of arms of Friesland at the end. Also with many woodcut decorated initials and woodcut head- and tailpieces. All engraved and woodcut illustrations are beautifully coloured by a contemporary hand. Contemporary gold-tooled sprinkled calf. [10], 913, [61] pp. Full description