James Edwards, of Halifax, invented a curious way of making vellum transparent, and patented it in 1785. The vellum had to be soaked in pearlash and subjected to various processes, pressure among them, and cut very thin indeed, so as to be more like goldbeater’s skin than anything else. Then the books were covered with fine white paper and painted, generally in monotone, but sometimes in colour, and over this painting the transparent vellum was skilfully fixed. The result is that, except when the thin vellum is cracked or seen through, the painting underneath is as fresh as ever it was; but it is to be presumed that there is not much wearing strength in Edwards’ vellum, chiefly because of its extreme thinness. But as a rule any fine examples of his work, especially as they look dainty and precious, have always been well kept and highly valued, and are in good and clean condition. Some modern binders have essayed Edwards’ plan with a certain measure of success.
Impressions of designs in low relief were made on thin leather bindings by means of engraved cylinders in the earlier half of the nineteenth century. They were chiefly used in the small and beautifully illustrated periodicals which were so popular in England—The Age, Friendship’s Offering, and many more—issued during the earlier half of the nineteenth century and a little after it. Charming designs in cameo are often found in these cases, on paste-boards covered with thin leather, but they are nearly always rubbed badly in projecting places. Some of the best of these designs are by Remnant and Edmonds, Smith Elder & Co., and De La Rue & Co.
BOOKS TO CONSULT.
Bagford’s Notes on Bookbinding. (Bibliographical Soc. Proceedings, Nov. 16, 1903.)
Bickell, L.—Buchereinbände des XV. bis, XVIII. Jahrhunderts aus hessischen Bibliotheken. Leipzig, 1892.
Bouchot, H.—Les reluires d’Art à la Bibliothèque Nationale. Paris, 1888.
Davenport, Cyril.—Cantor Lectures on Decorative Bookbinding. London, 1898.
Davenport, Cyril.—Early London Bookbindings. London. (The Queen, 1891.)
Duff, E. G.—Early Stamped Bindings. (Prideaux, S. T.) London, 1893.
Gibson, S.—Early Oxford Bindings. London, 1903.