| In Comparative Diagram 1 we can see by the gaps or poorly aligned imprints (pointed out by the green arrows) that this central enclosure has been formed with 4 identical imprints (lab-14). I do not know if this was Boyets first attempt to make such an enclosure with these tools however was can see in Comparative Diagram 3 the various tools that he used to create his all over masterpieces. |
| While it might have been an interesting exercise to precisely orient 4 idential imprints to form an enclosure, at some point in time a ready made one piece enclosure was invented, this then is lab-14-2, below in Comparative Diagram 4, I show how these lab-14-2 enclosures were employed in 3 different bindings. The layout remained the same however the individual small tools that filled the enclosures often varied as well as the inbetween enclosures that were rarely the same. We can see for example that 1699 Boudot, was constructed with a mix of lab-14-2 and lab-15-3, while BL C65213 mixed lab-14-2 with lab-15-4, and Esmerian's No. 60 mixed lab-14-2 with Lab-15-5. |
| In Comparative Diagram 5, we see that the lab-15 enclosures were all more or less the same but simply differed in size. It may be that lab-15-5 was constructed with small arc tools, it would have been a lot of work if that turns out to be the case. The lab-15-2 enclosure appears to vary from the others with more complete circles, this yields less free space in the center as demonstrated in Comparative Diagram 6. The lab-15-2 is found with the lab-14 framework both of which appear unique to that particular binding (1667 Nouveau Testament). |
| At first glance these all over design bindings present so much variation that one is tempted to think that some of these examples are fakes, the roulettes are also unusually varied we will attack that on the next page. |
|
click here to return to the HOME page. click here to see an INDEX of the 2017 pages. 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. |
| Virtual Bookings, created by L. A. Miller | return to the Home page of VIRTUAL BOOKBINDINGS |