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I found these bindings after a long and intensive search on Google with varying forms of "Delorme, rue Saint-Jacques n° 191" this reproduction is found in an online pdf file ALDE Maison de ventes spécialisée Livres et Autographes Livres anciens Histoire naturelle Livres des XIXe et XXe siècles Vente aux enchères publiques Lundi 27 novembre 2006 à 14 h 15 Salle Rossini 7, rue Rossini 75009 Paris |
| Although I was elated to find this set that is very similar to another set of signed bindings on the same 1785 Fenelon set (see this). The reproduction was not great and I spent hours looking for a better one but sadly this is as good as it gets, even so we can make out a few tools that are unmistakeable. In Comparative Diagram 2, below I show both sets together. |
| In Comparative Diagram 2, I show both sets together, where we can see that Delorme has used some of the same tools on both. Particular is his corner tool on the boards, this is like a signature tool for this period |
| The best part of this pdf catalogue is that they have included the Delorme signature and so with the other signed set we have now two signatures that we can match to Gruel's hand drawn reproduction of it. |
| In Comparative Diagram 4, I show all three examples of the Delorme signature and the icing on the cake was to find that this pdf signature has a roulette detail included that matches Gruel's illustration, and is also found in the 1791 detail shown in Comparative Diagram 3, this seems an amazing coincidence. (see Gruel on archive.org) Manuel historique et bibliographique de l'amateur de reliures 1887 Gruel, Léon, 1841-1923 |
| In Comparative Diagram 5, we see the complete roulette that surrounds Delorme's signature, this is from a 1791 Delorme decoration on a Almanach Royal that is found in the Royal Library of Spain in Madrid and can be viewed in their online database (see this) even more amazing is a 1787 Almanach in the same Library this appears to be decorated in a nearly identical fashion as the Alde item 27 shown at the top of this page. |
| In Comparative Diagram 6 I show the 1787 Almanach Royal from the Royal Library compared with our low resolution barely visible Alde PDF reproduction. This is an incredible find because here we are able to see what the decoration of this binding actually looks like. |
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| 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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