Binding
The copy being showcased for this exhibition is in one of three original binding options offered to subscribers. This was described as half-calf, while the other two options were full-cloth and full-calf.
The binding consists of quarter bound leather with textured maroon cloth boards. The leather corners and leather at front and back feature blind tooling, while the spine features a dark red leather spine label with a short form of the title in gold. The spine also has gold tooling to imitate raised bands, and the author's name applied directly to the spine. Although the copy is well worn, blind tooled ornaments are just evident on the spine also.
The binder's task was not an easy one in compiling this volume, due to the numerous maps and plates in an almost haphazard range of dimensions having to be variously folded and either bound or tipped in to the book. The many folded plates give this volume a characteristically bulged look.
The binding has stood the test of time quite well, considering the amount of handling this volume may have had judging by the wear on the spine. The only weakness, so common, especially in leather bound books, is in the hinges. Thus we find this copy suffers from split hinges both front and back, but otherwise the binding is in remarkably good condition for its age.
The binding consists of quarter bound leather with textured maroon cloth boards. The leather corners and leather at front and back feature blind tooling, while the spine features a dark red leather spine label with a short form of the title in gold. The spine also has gold tooling to imitate raised bands, and the author's name applied directly to the spine. Although the copy is well worn, blind tooled ornaments are just evident on the spine also.
The binder's task was not an easy one in compiling this volume, due to the numerous maps and plates in an almost haphazard range of dimensions having to be variously folded and either bound or tipped in to the book. The many folded plates give this volume a characteristically bulged look.
The binding has stood the test of time quite well, considering the amount of handling this volume may have had judging by the wear on the spine. The only weakness, so common, especially in leather bound books, is in the hinges. Thus we find this copy suffers from split hinges both front and back, but otherwise the binding is in remarkably good condition for its age.
The spine of the book features a very traditional design typical of the time when it was published in 1879, but at the same time strongly reminiscent of an early period of fine binding, when the spine would have featured raised bands resulting from the sewing.
In this binding the division into five segments has been achieved by using gold-tooling to imitate raised bands, with the patterns possibly based on stylised cords.
The applied leather spine label has the short title in gilt lettering with a rule above and below.
The second to lowest segment features the author's name applied in gilt lettering directly to the spine.
The remaining three segments appear blank on initial inspection, but do in fact feature quite intricate blind tooled decorative features.
In this binding the division into five segments has been achieved by using gold-tooling to imitate raised bands, with the patterns possibly based on stylised cords.
The applied leather spine label has the short title in gilt lettering with a rule above and below.
The second to lowest segment features the author's name applied in gilt lettering directly to the spine.
The remaining three segments appear blank on initial inspection, but do in fact feature quite intricate blind tooled decorative features.
Looking at the front board of the book more closely we find two main features: the leather (calf), with decorative blind tooling; and the textured maroon cloth.
The leather is smooth and dyed a brown colour, which may have darkened further with age. Unfortunately the material has not stood the text of time, with the front and back hinges having split, while fortunately both boards are still attached.
The leather is smooth and dyed a brown colour, which may have darkened further with age. Unfortunately the material has not stood the text of time, with the front and back hinges having split, while fortunately both boards are still attached.
The cloth features an impressed texture that is independent of any structure of the weave.
This volume is in octavo 8° format and consists of 486 numbered pages, preceded by a fold-out frontispiece and 12 preliminary pages (numbered in lower case roman numerals), while there are another 24 maps and plates (16 of these being folded) interspersed throughout, which are all variously bound or tipped in, but do not feature page numbering. The illustrations were all printed separately from the text and do not directly form part of the signatures.
This volume is in octavo 8° format and consists of 486 numbered pages, preceded by a fold-out frontispiece and 12 preliminary pages (numbered in lower case roman numerals), while there are another 24 maps and plates (16 of these being folded) interspersed throughout, which are all variously bound or tipped in, but do not feature page numbering. The illustrations were all printed separately from the text and do not directly form part of the signatures.
Looking at the base of the spine we find a red and white linen has been used to complement the fine red speckling applied to the foredge.
Finally, on opening the book we are met by a double-spread of strongly coloured marbled endpapers, where once again the deep red shades predominate - thus the theme colour of deep red of various shades, depending on how various materials have aged, is found in the cloth of the boards, the spine label, the speckling and finally in the marbled endpapers.
Finally, on opening the book we are met by a double-spread of strongly coloured marbled endpapers, where once again the deep red shades predominate - thus the theme colour of deep red of various shades, depending on how various materials have aged, is found in the cloth of the boards, the spine label, the speckling and finally in the marbled endpapers.