File:Historic bindings in the Bodleian Library, Oxford - with reproductions of twenty-four of the finest bindings (1891) (14783746942).jpg

Identifier: historicbindings00bras (find matches)
Title: Historic bindings in the Bodleian Library, Oxford : with reproductions of twenty-four of the finest bindings
Year: 1891 (1890s)
Authors: Brassington, William Salt, 1859-1939 Bodleian Library
Subjects: Bookbinding
Publisher: London : Sampson Low, Marston and Co.
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
y appreciated good and artisticwork, and to whom the Library is indebted for many of the finestspecimens of bookbinding now to be found within its walls. Forthe second scrapbook, bibliophiles are indebted to the forethought ofthe present Librarian, Mr. Nicholson, who found a parcel of oldbindings in the library, and caused them to be arranged chronologicallyand -mounted in a book uniform in size with the Douce Scrapbook. The plate on the opposite page is taken from a binding thuspreserved. It must be apparent to the veriest tyro in art, that thedesign is meritorious; although an obvious copy of the style ofornament introduced by Grolier, it is not a servile imitation; indeed itbears marks of original and distinctive genius. The tooling may notbe so carefully executed as that of the great French artists of thesame period, but boldness of treatment, the true characteristic ofEnglish art, fully compensates for any lack of mathematical exactnesson the part of the draughtsman or executant.
Text Appearing After Image:
Plate X. r.ROT.TF.KF.POrK r>F5Tr,NT ONT TlTtOWN1 C.M.F. With arms of Tliumas Wotton, Esquire. PLATE X. 21 The light brown leather is covered with delicately interlaced blacklines edged with gold, here and there arabesque foliage tooled in goldadds lightness to the design. Along the central guiding line fourspaces, almost circular, are thickly sprinkled with gold dots, aboutwhich more presently. In the centre of the design the arms of SirThomas Wotton are stamped in silver. Quarterly first and fourth,argent, a saltire engrailed sable: (Wotton.) Second and third argenton a chief sable a lion, passant guardant, argent: (Rudstone.) Sir Thomas Wotton was the father of the better known Sir Henry Wotton,who in Elizabeths days became secretary to the Earl of Essex. After the rebellionof that hot-headed Earl Sir Henry fled for his life across the sea. At the accessionof James I. he returned to England, and died Provost of Eton in 1639. All SirHenrys adventures may be read of in the pages of

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