Beschreibung:

RIVIÈRE, Robert & Son. A sample binding. [London], 1900 [dated on spine]. 8 o (185 x 124 mm). 216 blank leaves. Olive crushed levant morocco gilt, upper cover with two concentric fillets, the inner accompanied by dots, lower cover plain, spine in six compartments with five raised bands, gilt-lettered in the second, the others gilt with tulip, leafy and roundel tools in the Arts & Crafts style, turn-ins gilt, watered-silk linings at front, marbled paper endleaves at back (corners and joints lightly rubbed). A RARE AND CURIOUS SURVIVAL. A specimen binding executed by Robert Rivière & Son in 1900 from which clients could choose three different binding styles: sparing gilt on the sides, either with fabric doublures and leather joints, or with paper joints only and--still more plain--as the lower cover without any tooling, lined with marbled paper. Small price lists in code are affixed to the front flyleaf and rear pastedown, designating these styles as nos. 50-52 and giving prices from 18 o to royal 4 o sizes. The prices were later revised. "Rivière was one of the great names in English bookbinding for almost a century.... [Robert Rivière] left Bath in 1840 and returned to London... [he] had no sons but two daughters. When the eldest son of the second daughter, Percival Calkin, was taken into partnership in 1881 the firm's name became Robert Rivière & Son, and it subsequently remained in the hands of the Calkin family until it closed down in 1939" (Nixon Five Centuries no. 98). The tools are now in the workshop of Messrs. Bayntun of Bath.