An appealing contemporary vellum binding by Edwards of Halifax, executed for a client in the 1770s who bore the initials ‘MA’ - will she ever be found?
Contemporary vellum, covers with a gilt metope and pentaglyph roll border on a blue wash background enclosing a gilt vine-leaf border, upper cover drawing beneath the vellum of a young woman in classical dress holding a blue oval initialled ‘MA’ - the recipient of the book. The lower cover has an oval depiction under the vellum (11x7cm) showing an English parkland scene, a family in the foreground, two soldiers nearby and a little collection of statuary at the end of the landscaped avenue -a typically soothing Edwards scene. Smooth spine gilt-lettered on a blue wash background, rubbed, and divided into 6 compartments by blue wash and gilt bands, the remaining compartments with alternating gilt ornaments, all edges gilt. External straps bound in. Gilt roll tool to edges of boards. The vellum is discoloured; rubbing to corners and a couple of short cracks to the vellum at the head and tail of the spine. Marbled endpapers. Internally a near fine copy, entirely unmarked.
The bookbindings of James Edwards, originally of Halifax, West Yorkshire, who in 1784 set up business in Pall Mall, London are among the most famous in British book history. His patent for Embellishing Books bound in Vellum, by making Drawings on the Vellum which are not liable to be Defaced but by Destroying the Vellum itself came in 1785 and was in recognition and to protect his distinctive technique and style of binding volumes which have come to be known as Edwards of Halifax bindings. The key element of the technique is that the drawings were placed on the reverse of the vellum which means that they are invulnerable to damage unless the external layer of leather were to be compromised. Our example has seen significant external rubbing and marking but the drawings remain as fresh as the day there were done, and the book is entirely unrestored. A lovely thing.
