Cahier d'Écriture par Mercier, dédié à mes bien-aimés parents. by (CALLIGRAPHY - MANUSCRIPT) - 1858

Paris, J. Sevin, n.d. (1893). Oblong (11 x 27 cm). 12 plates, printed on the recto only. Printed wrapprs with staples. (staples a bit rusted, wrappers a bit damaged and waterstained but interior fine). The printed cover serves as a titlepage. A very scarce late nineteenth century lettering book for the use of painters, architects etc. On the inside front cover the publisher explains that this booklet distinguished itself from other by the simplicity of the letters used as examples. Most of the plates attribute the letters used to Deberny & Cie. I have only found one library holding this (BNF) who date it 1893.

No place, no date. Engraved throughout. Plates not always bound in order and not always numbered. Collation: Halftitle, Avis au Lecteur, Title, 1 (1 unnumbered) 2 - 33, (2 unnumbered), 34 - 43, [43 but misnumbered should be 44], 45 - 57, (2 unnumbered), 58 - 62, [65 but misnumbered should be 63], 64 - 73, 78, 79, (1 unnumbered but should be numbered 76), 77, 74 - 75, 80 - 81, 86 - 87, 84 - 85, 82 - 83, 88. Original paper wrappers (a bit worn). Halftitle duststained, title and a few pages with some waterstaining, last 4 ff with waterstain in the margin, otherwise a good copy with large margins (page size 12 x 19) especially large lower margin. One of the many variant editions of this popular work. The present copy says Paris on the title page but the address has been mostly erased - before printing - so this is probably a pirated copy (?). Another version exists with "Reigles" in the title but ours definitely has "Regles". Published after 1732 as page 86 shows the facade for the Church of St. Sulpice… Read More

(Paris, c. 1845). Large broadside (49 x 63 cm). (with some traces of folds).Exotic wood was use for architectural ornaments but was deemed to be far to expensive for general use. J. Morisot invented a cheaper alternative for this and was rewarded a bronze medal for his invention. The broadsheet shows the available models and their prices.

London, the Sun Engraving Co. Ltd., n.d. (but 1932/1933 with supplement 1940). (xii, 168 pp). A Supplementary List of Additional Type Faces, September 1940 bound in (pages 169 - 216). An updated price list has been pasted over the original price list. Folio. Original gilt printed cloth. (binding soiled, edges & corners rubbed, some slight damage to spine). (Six of the leather alphabet tabs with letters missing and 8 letters cut from 36 point 'Beton Extra Bold'. Obviously used but despite the defects still a good copy.Another relic, with type range reflecting the twenties and thirties. The introduction explains the design process for this specimen book and shows all aspects of "The Sun" in a series of 17 photos. Anglo Engraving was founded in London in 1898 by Edward Hunter and J.A. Hughes. They wanted to call their company "Sun Engraving" but the name was already in use. In 1911 the name 'Sun Engraving' becomes available and Hunter and Hughes create a new company at Milford House, Milford Lane,… Read More

Market Drayton, Tern Press, 1978. (62 pp). Woodcut illustrations. Uncut. Dark brown half leather with decorated and coloured cork boards. Woodcuts by Nicholas Parry, printed in Old Style on Medway paper and bound at the Tern Press by Nicholas and Mary Parry. Of eighty copies printed this is number 35, signed by the author and the illustrator.The Exeter Book riddles are a fragmentary collection of verse riddles in Old English found in the later tenth-century anthology of Old English poetry known as the Exeter Book. The riddles are varied in theme and represent the familiar, material world from an oblique angle. The Tern Press, named for a little river that runs through the proprietors' garden, was founded in 1973 by Nicholas and Mary Parry, who performed all the design, editing, typesetting, illustrating, binding, marbling and selling of the seemingly endless creations from their imagination. The press was energetic and very productive. It used the greatest variety of typefaces, paper, bindings and… Read More

Berlin, Propyläen-Verlag, n.d. (1923?). 57pp. text + 55 full-page facsimiles (several in colour) and 18 facs. of initials in the text. Sm. folio. Halfcloth (rebacked).

Nouvelle édition, corrigée & considérablement augmentée d'après les mémoires & les procédés des artistes... 5 vols. Paris, chez P. Fr. Didot jeune, 1773. 8vo. Contemporary full calf (rubbed, corners & tops & bottoms of spine slightly damaged). xxvi,3,595pp; halftitle, titlepage, 622pp with 3 (folding) plates bound in; halftitle, titlepage,574pp; halftitle, titlepage, 556pp + 4 pages catalogue of books; 640pp. The last (fifth) volume contains a dictionary of all the terms used in all the arts and crafts.Interesting work that was first published in two volumes only. Pierre Jaubert (1715-1780) took it upon himself to revise and augment this universal encyclopedia of all the arts and crafts. An important part is dedicated to the professions related to the book. We find interesting articles on engravers, typefounders, papermakers, makers of decorated paper, bookbinders, gilders, printers, booksellers and bibliographers. The three (folding) plates that are to be found in the second volume all deal… Read More

Nova ediçao, Lisboa, na typographia Rollandiana, 1848. 294 pp. Unbound and in sheets as published. Printed label for the binder to use on the temporary wrappers next to page 289. Some light staining throughout.

No place, no date. Engraved throughout. Plates not always bound in order and not always numbered. Collation: Halftitle, Avis au Lecteur, Title, 1 (1 unnumbered) 2 - 33, (2 unnumbered), 34 - 43, [43 but misnumbered should be 44], 45 - 57, (2 unnumbered), 58 - 62, [65 but misnumbered should be 63], 64 - 73, 78, 79, (1 unnumbered but should be numbered 76), 77, 74 - 75, 80 - 81, 86 - 87, 84 - 85, 82 - 83, 88. Original paper wrappers (a bit worn). Halftitle duststained, title and a few pages with some waterstaining, last 4 ff with waterstain in the margin, otherwise a good copy with large margins (page size 12 x 19) especially large lower margin. One of the many variant editions of this popular work. The present copy says Paris on the title page but the address has been mostly erased - before printing - so this is probably a pirated copy (?). Another version exists with "Reigles" in the title but ours definitely has "Regles". Published after 1732 as page 86 shows the facade for the Church of St. Sulpice… Read More

(Paris, 1815). Parchemin (40 x 49,5 cm) (lég. poussiéreux). Document imprimé par P. Didot l'aîné et gravé par Adam, avec mentions manuscrits et signature de Charles Philippe de France (griffe), futur Charles X, et contresignature du duc de Montmorency, sceau sous papier (lég. bruniss. et trace de grattage), autres mentions mss au verso. Daté Paris 15 Janvier 1815. Prov. E. Samain (cachet rouge).Accorde à François Chapuy, né à Versailles en 1768, le droit de porter la décoration du Lys. Belle ornementation emblématique gravée.