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In Comparative Diagram 2, we explore imprints made by a specific type of tool that was employed by a number of different binders in this last half of the 18th century. Barber has arranged them upside down in his catalogue, made some obvious mistakes and proved that with all his research he failed to recognize the important binders who were behind the imprints. The first on the list DCT 35, is our Relieur Royal who we are investigating. Barber shows a better example of this imprint than I have been able too, proof that he did find this exact imprint and that the bindings he associate with this model, namely W.Cats 59 and 415 are probably Relieur Royal bindings. Second on the list DCT 34, this is not a Derome le jeune imprint! it is a Gosselin imprint, Barber made this mastake not realizing that Gosselin was working for Derome, Gosselin decorated bindings with his own tools for Derome who was content to put his ticket inside anyway. If you look closely at the next example DCT 36 and the one below it DCT 32, these are the same imprint made with the same tool that belonged to Derome le Jeune, I put Jubert's name next to it as he used this tool while working for Derome and mixed his own tools into the decoration but often included this Derome tool (click here to see examples of this). Barber's catalogue is filled with imprints that he has associated with Derome however not DCT 32, that he found on W.Cat. 238 this is most certainly a Derome binding, but he has not recognized that fact, which I find quite disturbing. Finally we come to DCT 33, this is Dubuisson's tool of this type, you cannot fail to recognize this imprint, it is in so many of Dubuisson bindings. I once said, "if you don't know Dubuisson, you don't know 18th century bookbinding" the same goes for this tool, pd-2 is instantly recognizable compared to Derome's that has such a long snout. Just knowing this, you can instantly separate a Derome binding from a Dubuisson, even though they may look quite identical otherwise. Then looking again at the Relieur Royal example we see that it has a totally different head and crown compared to Dubuisson or Derome, yet it is very similar to that of Gosselin, the easiest way to separate them is by the pleats in the skirt. Gosselin has 7 distinct pleats at the hip, while the Relieur Royal has really only 5.
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