| I found this binding on a random search of the internet, it is for sale, you can buy it here.This was a shock to my system, first because it was made in 1770 or later, i.e. after the death of Louis Douceur, and I see here imprints that I have previously cataloged on another page. (see this page) Here are the same imprints as found on the binding No. 210, shown in the Catalogue de reliures du XVe au XIXe siècle, en vente à la librairie Gumuchian & Cie. [Belles Reliures, Catalogue XII.] Published by Gumuchian & Cie. [1929], The experts at Gumuchian thought that No. 210 might be a binding by Louis Douceur, now we have to make sure. |
| When we come to Comparative Diagram 5, we see there is a problem this imprint does not match our d-1 type model. Now we need to see if there are other tools that can validate these bindings as being in fact made by Louis Douceur or his workshop. By a strange coincidence the binding No. 210 lead me to another Virgile binding that I have a very good reproduction of, No. 923, shown below. |
| The overlay test shown in Comparative Diagram 7, prooves conclusively that the bindings No.210 and No.923 are linked by this d-4-4 imprint but more important is the large fleuron d-21-4 this is found on the No. 923 binding |
| The overlay test shown in Comparative Diagram 8, definitely links these bindings to many other Douceur bindings where we find the d-21-4 imprint used as a signature centerpiece in the spine compartments. So we must consider that the 1770 Virgile shown at the top of this page is a post Douceur, that derives from Louis Douceur's workshop even after his unfortunate demise. This binding is being sold as the work of Derome even though we do not see any of Derome's usual tools being employed. |
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click here to return to the INDEX of the 1749 Henault pages. click here to see the INDEX of the 2017 pages. click here to return to the HOME page. see below links to previous work |
| Even experts are sometimes wrong, before you spend thousands on a book, please do your own research! Just because I say a certain binding can be attributed to le Maitre isn't any kind of guarantee, don't take my word for it, go a step further and get your own proof. In these pages I have provided you with a way of doing just that. |
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