The Books of Love

The Art of Love, 1839, with gold stamping on a ribbon embossed cloth binding; from The Library Company of Philadelphia.

The Album of Love, 1846, with gold and blind stamping on a printed cloth cover; from The Library Company of Philadelphia.

The Album of Love, 1848, with gold and blind stamping on a cloth cover; from The Library Company of Philadelphia.

Love is Enough, 1873, by Ellis and White, and designed by William Morris. Gold stamping on a forest green cloth from the Victorian Web.

Roland, 1897 by Ernst Eckstein. Stamped cloth binding from the University of Wisconsin's collection of German decorative trade bindings.

Evidently, there is more than just one Book of Love. Happy Valentine's Day!

No Tipping Point For the Book

A really nice portrayal of the evolution of a new illustrated boxed-set of Malcolm Gladwell's three best-selling books: The Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers. Designer Paul Sahre, illustrator Brian Rea, Malcolm Gladwell and other participants sit down with Debbie Millman, host of Design Matters, to discuss their experiences with the formation of the Malcolm Gladwell: Collected book project. Such a nice collaborative achievement, and three years in the making.

::Via Felt & Wire

   

The Poetical Works & Letters of Robert Burns

In honor of Robert Burns birthday today (1759-1796), I have one of my own favorite title pages to share from a 1787 edition of The Poetical Works and Letters of Robert Burns. I recently found this book on a flea market table for $10. It has a very nice stamped leather binding with some wear, gilded edges and it is all in tact. Evidently, this is the "family edition" of this book. Just beyond the title page it has the comment "(In this Edition the more Objectionable Passages and Pieces are excluded)". The decorative title with beautiful line art and blackletter text is an inspired work of lettering and illustration. I have seen other titles of this very same nature, but so it goes...I can't seem to put my fingers upon them now. (I have digital copies of them floating around here somewhere, so will revisit their comparisons again later once I find them). This title page and other illustrated pages throughout the book are steel engravings. Below is the same edition of this book I found on The Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts Company site recently. It has a plaid front cover and a nice fore-edge painting of Ripley Castle.   

This beautiful edition of the same Burns book is currently on display through February 5th for a Robert Burns exhibit at the Morgan Library in New York City. It was lavishly rebound for Charles J. Sawyer (1876?-1931), in the 20th century, probably by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, in London. The binder even included a miniature portrait of the author on the back cover. Visit the Morgan Library's online exhibit and you can listen to some audio versions of Burns works over a hearty meal of haggis tonight—or not. 

 This is how the poet's birthday was celebrated in Glasgow a few years back.

Goudy Stamped Cloth Cover Design

Am I the only one who was not aware that Frederic Goudy designed book covers? This one is a gem. From the Crossett Library Bennington College. The publishers mark for George Bell and Sons is on the back.

Arts & Letters

Via: Books n Buildings