BOOKBINDING

See the entry on the Murray family in the Oxford DNB. In fair condition lightly aged and worn. Folded for postage, with short closed tears to the edges of central horizontal fold. Small biographical slip laid down at top left. Addressed to ‘Dear Colonel Fellows’ and signed ‘John Murray junr.’ Reads: ‘Our binders have done the best they can with your Volumes, short of rebinding, but as you know patching up leather bindings in a really satisfactory way is not easy. / However, I hope that you will be satisfied with the volumes which I am sending on to you today.’

Octavo volume containing seven blank leaves of unwatermarked wove paper. Bound in green calf, tastefully decorated with gilt compartments on spine and gilt tooling along edges of both front and back covers. The design on both covers is identical, with the gilt-tooled edges enclosing a blind-stamped border of dentelles, enclosing a blind-stamped block reminiscent of late-Victorian tiling. All edges gilt and plain green endpapers. Internally in good condition, lightly aged; in lightly-aged covers worn at corners and spine, with loss at head and tail of spine.

vi + 268pp., 12mo. In sturdy red morocco half-binding, with brownish-black boards in ribbed patterned cloth, and gilt tooling, marbled endpapers. Binders' ticket at rear: 'Bound by Blackie and Son'. On browned high-acidity paper, with slight damage to title-leaf. On the front free endpaper is the ownership inscription of 'Chas Sarolea', i.e. Professor Charles Sarolea [ Charles Louis-Camille Sarolea ] (1870-1953), noted Belgian philologist and author who settled in Scotland. Facing this, on a flyleaf, is the ownership inscription of 'J.

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and worn. Frank on reverse of damaged second leaf to 'Mess Nichols & Son | Parliament Street | Printers | W Curtis'. Seventeen lines of directions to ' his friends Mess Nichols & Son', regarding the binding of legislative works, beginning with 'two Statute books of Geo the Fourth'. Regarding 'an odd, abridgment of some of Geo 3d' he writes: 'it is probable there may be more, if so begs Mess N & Son would get them & bind them, if not it will hardly be worth the expense of binding the one'.

The text of the printed volume is neatly and skilfully copied over 61pp., 4to., and ruled in red. Interspersed with a number of pages carrying only the red ruling. Internally good and tight, in worn brown morocco binding with front hinge nearly detached, with heavily-worn spine with no label and singeing at head and foot. Gilt dentelles, both internal and external, and the following stamped within decorative border at centre of both covers: 'SERIES CHRONOLOGICA | IMPERATORUM | ROMANORUM | 1655'.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The letterhead styles the firm: 'Maggs Bros., | Rare Books, Prints & Autographs. | Catalogues issued. | Publishers, Exporters & Shippers.' gives thhe address of the firm's warehouse, telegraphic and cable address, 'Code in Use', and telephone number. With reference to an order, the firm is sending 'a large plate of the "Mistaken Marriage" and another of "The Whiskers" of these latter kindly use the larger of the two but do not inlay'.

Two pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. As follows: " I wish to apologise for having spoken to you in the way I did here today in the presence of several people [...] I had no knowledge of the matter in question until my Father appealed to me for my opinion, and I gave my opinion [excision] viz. that we should have been referred to at an earlier period, & if the leather was actually in stock & not promised to anypne else when the order was received. that it should have been used for those books.

1p., 8vo. On bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper with a few small closed tears to edges. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with broken red wax seal, Penny Red stamp and postmarks, to: 'Revd. Dr. Wiseman, | St. Mary's College | Oscott | Nr. Birmingham'. 22 lines of text, closely and neatly written. Daly begins: 'I am sorry to trouble you by laying before you the Letters [not present] of a man of the name of Thomas Male - Bookseller & Bookbinder residing at St. Mary's, who has by representing himself as patronized by you got Credit from me to the Amount of £11 . 9 .

Six items, invoices and receipts, 1835-1836, some revealing the spreading of the binding among different firms of "Military Prayers" [prob. John Parker Lawson, "The Military Pastor", a series of Practical Discourses addressed to soldiers, with prayers for the use of the sick published by J.W. Parker [pp. SPCK]]. Binders include: Camp [& Curtis][not in BBTI - William to 1831]; Eliza Camp [BBTI same address as William Camp for a time; BBTI]; Russell & Spencer; Joseph Smith [& Son] [not in BBTI]; F. Remnant.

ITEM ONE (note, one page, 12mo, 3 December 1871, remains of grey paper mount adhering to verso of blank second leaf of bifolium): Apologises for sending a undated note: 'I daresay you can manage to fix at about what period it was written'. ITEM TWO (note, one page, 8vo, 12 December 1872, on creased, aged paper): Declining a dinner invitation. ITEM THREE (letter, one page, 8vo, 21 November 1873, on aged paper heavily chipped at head and foot): He has just described Draper's paper to Blanchard, who 'thinks it just the very thing they want. They like to have dates.

Two pages, c7.5 x 19", folded, good condition. It comprises more than 80 tiles, some entries are multiple, mainly theological, but other subjects include history, memoirs, and poetry. Brief details of binding work given, and prices, total £4.1.6. Philip also charges for "advertising Scott's Bible" in the "banner" and "Journal". The list is substantial enough to represent a private library.

Sixteen invoices, all 8vo, good condition. They bought account books and stationery relevant to their function. The overseers, for example, bought a "Poor Rates Book", had "Rate Receipt books" and "Poor Rate Notices" printed by Gotelee. The surveyors' invoices listed "Printing 200 Highway Rate Receipts". The churchwardens had a "Book of Common Prayer" bound.