[Schiff, Mortimer L., collection] — de Ricci, Seymour, compiler | The catalogue of Schiff's library of signed bindings

Property from the Library of John M. Schiff

[Schiff, Mortimer L., collection] — de Ricci, Seymour, compiler

French Signed Bindings in the Mortimor L. Schiff Collection. [And:] British and Miscellaneous Signed Bindings in the Mortimer L. Schiff Collection. New York: privately printed in Paris by Lecram-Servant for John M. Schiff, 1935

4 vols, 4to (287 x 260 mm). Numerous photographic plates; lightly toned. In half dark blue morocco over blue cloth, spines with raised bands in six compartments, gilt lettered in second, third, and fourth compartments, marbled endpapers; rubbing and slight superficial loss to spines, joints of volume one rubbed.

First edition. De Ricci's catalogue of Schiff's library provides minute descriptions of 413 bindings by 171 binders and shops of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and "has become a standard reference work" (Breslauer). "Every binding of any importance is reproduced in a full-size photograph (except for a dozen volumes of monumental dimensions). In many cases, the doublures and inner dentelles, nearly always left aside in previous publications, have been here reproduced. The binder's stamps and binder's tickets, following Gruel's example, are all given in facsimile" (preface).

REFERENCE:

Schmidt-Kunsemuller 1415