On the previous page we were looking at some rare high resolution images of the decorative tools used by Delorme to decorate a Breviarium sometime around 1764, The binding shown above is covering a 1764 Semaine Sainte (reproduced in the 1929 Gumiuchian Catalogue XII) , and the question is whether this binding was also decorated in 1764. We can see in this binding some of the same tools that were employed in the Breviarium. |
In Comparative Diagram 2, we see that both bindings share the same palette, although there is an important difference in the spine. Derome was widely criticized for binding books without the use of raised bands, deemed by many as an English perversion. We can see that the Breviarium does not have bands, this to may be a significant chronologicaly important difference. But we need not go too far in these speculations as my real purpose on this page was to prepare you for some revelations on the next page, we need first to make a note of the tools found here within the decoration of this Semaine Sainte. |
As I mentioned on the last page the imprint shown in Comparative Diagram 3, del-8 is one of Derome's favorites that he used for more than 30 years, and a good way to identify his bindings. We were lucky to find such a good clean specimen on the Breviarium, the Semaine saint examples look ancient by comparison, the details are not sharp even though the actual reproduction appears to be quite good. |
In Comparative Diagram 4, we see the next most critically important Delorme imprint del-8-2. This imprint actually could be considered a morphed version of Dubuisson's Type 8 thus catalogued as del-8-2. In giving the name of del-8 to the imprintsm in Comparative Diagram 3, broke a few rules however cataloguing Deromes tools is not going to be easy because a good numer of them are Dubuisson tools that will have to remain catalogued as such. Also I have had to reconstruct parts of this del-8-2 imprint model, so it cannot be considered as 100 percent accurate, but anyway, will serve us well on the next page. |
In Comparative Diagram 5, we see another important Delorme tool that we are going to run into, I show a number of examples due to the fact that none of the examples are perfect, we can see details in one where they are missing in another, however in general you will not have a problem identifying this imprint. |
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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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