| While I was searching for examples of Douceur signature spine fluerons I returned to one of my previous pages on the subject of Douceur spine decoration (click here to see it). On that page I was concentrating on the flueron d-21-4 however I happened to notice now that the important Douceur binding shown on that page has within the spine panels the same d-32-18 pair of imprints as found on my eBay binding. These are very small and fortunately with very high resolution scans we can identify with certainty these small corner tools. |
| In Comparative Diagram 2, we see a scanned version of the spine compared with a photo adjusted in size to match the scan dimensions. The great surprise was to discover this Douceur palette with birds. Shown below in Comparative diagram 3, this palette is small and not easy to see, however the detail in high resolution is striking. Iconic birds parading around on your bookshelves if you lucky enough to notice them. Both spines are decorated with this palette although decorated somewhat differently otherwise. |
| In Comparative Diagram 3, I have tried to convey an impresion of the actual size of these imprints, both will fit comfortably on your thumb nail, and of course at that size they are going to be hard to identify especially in a spine panel corner where they are often only partially visible. |
| In Comparative Daigram 4, we show convincing proof that the imprints found in the spine panel of a classic 1754 Douceur binding are the same as the imprints found in the 1751 dentelle of our eBay binding. Notice that the 1754 palette is another with birds. |
| In Comparative Diagram 5, we see another Douceur palette decorated with birds, I have been very lax in catalogueing Douceur palettes, and the catalogue numbers can only be considered as provisional. |
| In Comparative Diagram 6, we look at high resolution images of a 1751 (eBay) imprint that is related to a similar imprint that can be seen as a signature fleuron d-3. |
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In Comparative Diagram 7, we compare d-3 with our eBay d-3-2, I would not be surpised if we see d-3-2 decorating a Douceur spine somewhere. Below in Comparative Diagram 8, I have reproduced 2 d-3 examples from bindings that we have already studied (click here to see this). Both bindings cover 1754 editions of Lucrece: LUCRETIUS CARUS, Titus (ca 96-55 B.C.). Della natura delle cose. Translated by Alessandro Marchetti. Amsterdam [but Paris]: A spese dell'editore, 1754. 2 volumes, 8° (221 x 140mm). A RICHLY ILLUSTRATED AND HANDSOMELY PRINTED EDITION on large paper. The majority of the plates after Cochin, whose fine contribution towards this publication was never matched in his later work. Ray calls this edition 'the model for the sumptuous rococo volumes of the ensuing twenty-five years'. Brunet III, 1222; Cohen/de Ricci 665-6; Ray, French 9. |
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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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