On the white edges are the words, “REX IN AETERNVM VIVE NEZ,” ornamentally written in gold in large capital letters.
1534. Bible, Antwerp, 1534. In two volumes. Bound in brown calf, tooled in blind and gold, and measuring 14½ by 9 inches. The design on each of these fine volumes is the same, but the lettering upon them is different. The words on volume I. are, “AINSI QUE TOUS MEURENT PAR ADAM—AVSSY TOVS SERONT VIVIFIES PAR CHRIST”; and on volume II., “LA LOY A ESTE DONNEE PAR MOYSE—LA GRACE ET LA VERITE EST FAICTE PAR JESU CHRIST.” These words are in large gilt capitals in short lines, each word where necessary being divided from the next by a
PLATE XIV.
CALF BINDING OF “LA CYROPEDIE DE XENOPHON. PARIS, 1547.” MADE FOR EDWARD VI.
See page [83.]
small cross-crosslet. The lines are contained in a rectangular panel, with large corner stamps of a vase with flowers and two floral curves terminating in human masks. The triangular spaces thus left above and below the inscription are each filled by a double rose, crowned, flanked by the letters H A, perhaps standing for “Henry” and “Anne.” Beyond the panel and touching it is a broad border, made up of a double line of stamps cut in the form of an ornamental fleur-de-lys and a three-lobed flower. Beyond the border is a space broken at the corner with a repetition of the vase stamp, enclosing which was in all probability a narrow fillet variously ornamented with small designs like that which occurs below the lettering on the second volume.
Both these volumes have been unfortunately restored in places, but the old patterns have to some extent been preserved, and new stamps cut on the lines of the old ones, as can be seen by reference to a binding now at Oxford which is treated in a very similar way, and which, although it also has received some attention from an inferior binder, has not been restored in a like disastrous manner.