Humanists and Bookbinders; The Origins and Diffusion of the Humanistic Bookbinding 1459-1559, with a Census of Historiated Plaquette and Medallion Bindings of the Renaissance

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992. Hardcover. Fine/fine. Folio size, 296 pp., with prospectus. The third quarter of the 15th century saw a seismic shift in how books were bound; influenced by a small group of antiquaries and scribes centred in Padua, binders began to replace the old style of binding in blind with use of gilt, polychrome filigree, and architectural and plaquette ornamentation. This book studies north Italian and Parisian bindings, considering "the twin claims of ornament and patronage" (from dust jacket). Replete with 200 (half-tone) black and white illustrations and five colour plates to show the progression taking place, this is an indispensible guide to any student of the history of bookbinding.

Anthony Hobson (1921-2014) was the Director and Associate of Sotheby's, President of the Association Internationale de Bibliophoile, Honorary President of the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society, and a past President of the Bibliographical Society.

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in dark brown cloth with gilt design on the front and back covers, green stamped label with gilt lettering on the spine, tan endpapers, colour frontispiece, stated 1992 reprint of the original 1989 publication on copyright page; folio size (12" by 8.5"), pagination: [i-vi] vii-xix [1, blank] 1-296. Cream dust jacket with green decorative border and brown lettering on the front, green and brown lettering on the rear panel and spine, summary of the book on the front flap, author bio on the back flap. Loosely laid in is the prospectus, a single sheet of grey paper folded once to four pages (measuring 8 1/4" by 5 7/8").

___CONDITION: Volume in fine condition, the binding clean and without wear, the corners straight and without rubbing, the interior bright and clean, entirely free of prior owner markings; crisp, as new. Dust jacket fine overall, clean, with some extremely shallow creases at the top of the front panel. Prospectus also fine, clean and without wear.

___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an unusually large and heavy volume and additional postage may apply; please inquire for details.

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