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The binding shown above is found in the Dublin Trinity College as part of a collection of books bequeathed by Henry George Quin, hence the call number of Quin 95. The book itself is rather interesting, not the usual religious work, but rather a collection of earthy fables. You can find the entire book online with Gallica (click here to see it). We see in the center of this mosaic, top and bottom, red floral arrangents and in these we discover one of Delorme's favorite signature tools (shown in Comparative Diagram 1). |
| We have studied the Delorme imprint del-8-3 shown in Comparative Diagram 1, on a previous page (click here to see it). With just this single tool we can be fairly certain that the decoration of this binding was the work of Delorme and if this is correct, then many other similar bindings must surely be from this same hand. Erick Aguirre, a mosaic researcher has suggested that this binding is stylistically related to the mosaic shown below, Decor Puellarum 1461, (Musée Condé cote XXII- BIS-E001). |
| While we can see similarities in the decoration of these bindings I think there are also similarities in the design of the large leafy elements of Tutti I Trionfi 1559 (Michon's PL XXVII No. 46) compared with with Decor Puellarum below. I have to thank Erick Aguirre for many of these photos, and his input. He estimates that Tutti I Trionf must have been made after 1760, which suggests then that this could also be the work of Delorme. |
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In Comparative Diagram 5, I have reproduced Erick Aguirre's photo of this mosaic binding that has been the cause of a lot of theories mainly due to the J A Derome ticket found inside. I cannot say whether this binding was decorated by Dubuisson or Delorme, but I am very sure that Derome did not decorate this, and I suspect that the ticket inside has been placed there by an unscrupulous bookseller. When you see these very rare books all in similar mosaics bindings, you suspect that there must be an interesting story behind it all, and it is surprising that we do not already know it. |
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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. |
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