Dec 19, 2008 there are two books here from the library of jean grolier 14901565, whom a label identifies as the prince of bibliophiles. One is on the opera omnia of joannes baptista mantuanus vulgo battista spagnuoli printed in bologna in 1502 by benedictus hectoris, the other on. External links british library search on grolier for images and catalogue entries for over 30 bindings owned by grolier, and others in the style. He was particularly fond of these along with ornate bindings. As such, the bindings became affordable for everyone, but they no more had their past creativity. Some of the books are in public collections such as the british library and. George fletcher, a bibliophile who began collecting books at 15, was conferred the medal of chevalier of the ordre des arts et des lettres by cultural counselor antonin baudry. Although jean grolier is regarded correctly as a french bibliophile, the bindings executed for. Grolier bindings were interlaced and patterned, often in arabesque or geometric shapes, with double lines or curves, strap work, and gold tooling. In the year 1545, grolier obtained the position of treasurer general in france, and held it until his death, in. A design binding is a singularlyconsidered and beautifully executed book coveringa. Grolier was one of the largest american publishers of general encyclopedias, including the book of knowledge 1910, the new book of knowledge 1966, the new book of popular science 1972, encyclopedia americana 1945, academic american encyclopedia 1980, and numerous incarnations of a cdrom encyclopedia 19862003. The illegitimate son of a rich cloth merchant, he was one of the first manuscript collectors to branch out from fine illuminated manuscripts and collect parish records, family genealogies and other humble but historically important material. The collection of book bindings includes prints with valuable, historically or artistically important bindings from the historical collection groups, which are preserved separately, bearing the classification mark eslg and the formerly allocated classification mark.
Buy online, view images and see past prices for bookbindings from the library of jean grolier 1965 vintage british museum loan exhibition color frontispiece photographic plates leather binding. There is an introductory essay jean grolier and the renaissance by colin eisler. Pdf bookbinding collection 105 different bookbinding. British library search on grolier for images and catalogue entries for over 30 bindings owned by grolier, and others in the style. The bibliography includes books and essays that discuss grolier bindings in different collections, in addition to contemporary references to jean grolier. Grolier possessed one of the finest private libraries of his time and possibly any.
There are two books here from the library of jean grolier 14901565, whom a label identifies as the prince of bibliophiles. Nixon bookbindings from the library of jean grolier, p. The binding is contemporary and is in the style of jean groliers last binder. Grolier was educated in paris, served as the treasurer and receiver general of the french army in italy, and in 1534 was named ambassador to pope clement vii. He may also have worked at the french royal bindery while the grolier bindings have long been sought after, the identities of the binders who made them were forgotten until twentiethcentury scholarship threw light on picard and other binders. The grolier club recently renovated its groundfloor exhibition hall where the show french book arts. Collection of books on bookbinding and related trades, belonging to r. Bookbindings from the library of jean grolier 1965 vintage b.
The collections also hold a wide variety of nonscottish bindings, including many 15th and 16thcentury blindstamped and panel bindings, early goldtooled bindings. The research core of the library is a collection of over 100,000 bookseller and book auction catalogues, perhaps the largest and certainly the most accessible archive in america of this notoriously rare and ephemeral material, and much consulted by book historians. As a book collector, grolier is known in particular for his patronage of the aldine press, and his love of richly decorated bookbindings. From the library of jean grolier by gabriel austin the princeton university library owns two volumes from the library of jean grolier, the 16thcentury treasurer of france and amateur of bindings. The extensive catalogue lists books from the library of jean grolier, providing author, title, editor, imprint, size, provenance, booksellers, catalogues of private libraries and auction. The grolier club, which takes jean grolier as its patron, has a number of grolier bindings in its collection, as well as other objects connected with the great bibliophile. The books which grolier acquired in his early years including many of his. Title is gilted in the center of the first board with, at the bottom, his ex libris gilted groleirii and amicorum. Jean grolier was among historys most discerning book collectors, possessing.
Catalogue of books on bookbinding by old english bindery issuu. The first englishman to assemble a library of goldtooled bindings, wotton appears to have traveled to france several times by 1552, where he evidently was inspired by groliers. Invaluable is the worlds largest marketplace for art, antiques, and collectibles. Groliers love for books as well as for sharing them with others have inspired book artists, collectors and readers for centuries.
Grolier bindings were mostly produced in paris in the mid16th century, with many lovely examples featuring interlaced and patterned designs, often. Grolierii et amicorvm property of jean grolier and his friends. Picard is notable for having bound many books for the bibliophile jean grolier. To mark the occasion, the grolier club is mounting the celebratory exhibition french book arts. Famous figures in the history of book binding ilab. Most of his books were printed in italy often venice or basle and the bindings were usually from milanese and parisian workshops. Before the prince of bibliophiles was the namesake for the grolier club, he served as treasurer general of france and ambassador to the court of rome. These include two executed for the celebrated bibliophile jean grolier 1489901565, and an example of a french fanfare binding for mary queen of scots.
Groliers books were richly bound in morocco or calf decorated with intricate designs in gold and colours. Groliers splendid library of approximately 3,000 volumes remained as a. Groliers library, comprising more than 3,000 volumes, was noted for sumptuous gilt and painted bindings, many stamped with his generous motto ioannis grolierii et amicorum for use by jean grolier and his friends. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Jan 18, 2019 the club, which has roughly 800 members, is named for jean grolier, a 16thcentury french high official and book collector known for commissioning exquisite bindings.
Grolier in cambridge libraries and other french renaissance. Bookbindings from the library of jean grolier the british museum on. Jean grolier, for example, kept an enormous, 3,000volumestrong library of classic latin volumes. In the era of the machines, books could be bounded in just a short time. Decorative bookbindings rare book collections national. Recording the binding information when cataloguing a rare book is important as it gives us an indication of its provenance as well as how the book was used, regarded and circulated. Jean grolier s first library and his ownership marks before 1540, new york. Jean groliers was a bibliophilic cabinet of fine books. Next, line up the creased edge of your book with the center of the tape and press your book down into the tape. French bookbindings at the worth edward worth library.
It includes one from jean grolier, a great figure of luxury book binding. Grolier, 14891565, who had died in the previous year, is regarded as the greatest french bibliophile of the renaissance. Exhibition of french book arts to mark the opening of the. To bind a book, start by folding your pages in half and stapling them together at the folded crease. Grolier invested quite a bit into filling his library with beautifully bound volumes, and the books in his library had a unique style. Design binding today february 19 april 25, 2020 please note. New yorkon december 14, 2018, the grolier club will unveil its reconstructed stateoftheart exhibition hall, capping a total renovation of the public spaces in the centuryold building. Some 400 of these grolier bindings have survived, and each is marked distinctly with two latin phrases. Manutius and many other artists, grolier contributed to the growing french bookbinding. Jean picard was a french bookbinder, active around 1540.
The grolier club is preeminent among libraries documenting the buying, selling and collecting of books. The original owner of the book was jean grolier 14791565, a french bibliophile and book collector. Every book bound before the early 19th century is a unique handcrafted object, so no two bindings can be genuinely identical. Nov 12, 20 jean grolier, renowned book collector, also helped to elevate book binding to an art. A prominent feature of grolier bindings is the latin inscription io. Nov 05, 20 for instance, the grolier bindings originated from the reassures of france, jean grolier, vicomte daguisy in 1545. Jean grolier s was a bibliophilic cabinet of fine books. There is a contemporary reference to jean grolier by elizabeth m hajos this is followed by the.
French bookbindings at the worth by french book bindings at the worth. A preliminary catalogue by austin, gabriel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Jan 17, 2019 the club, which has roughly 800 members, is named for jean grolier, a 16thcentury french high official and book collector known for commissioning exquisite bindings. Cambridge university press, this book studies, and compares, two sixteenthcentury libraries. A preliminary catalogue 97808904580 by austin, gabriel and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. Volume bound for thomas wotton detailafter id spent four sunday evenings in january engrossed in the doings of the earl of grantham and his household on the pbs masterpiece classic series downton abbey, this months choice for spencer collection book of the month was obvious. The collection was built up by otto glauning 1876 1941 starting in 1905. This binding was produced in paris between 1538 and 1540 by jean picard and belongs to the first years of jean groliers second library. A friend of aldus manutius, the noted venetian printer, he was heavily influenced by his time spent as a french treasurer of milan. A choice of manuscripts and bookbindings from the library of isabella stewart gardner, fenway court.
The grolier club of new york city, a group of book collectors, was founded in his honor in the latter part of the 19th century. Jean grolier is one of the great figures of book collecting and bookbinding history. The convivial occasion was held among family, friends, and colleagues in the grolier clubs rare book room which features a permanent display of historic book bindings. Then, cut a piece of binding tape thats about 2 inches longer than your book and lay it stickyside up on a flat surface. Grolier assisted in the production of many volumes that were printed on the press of aldus lvlanutius, a celebrated venetian printer, and in recognition of his services many volumes were beautifully bound for groliers own library. Famous book collectors of old and their libraries odd nugget. French book bindings at the worth edward worth library. Manuscripts, books, bindings, prints, and documents, 12th21st century.
Many presentday styles are due to the preference shown by such famous collectors as tommaso maioli, of italy, and jean grolier, of france, in the early part of the sixteenth century. Examples of the art of book binding 1897 200 pages exhibition of silver embroidered and curious bookbinding by grolier club 1903 97 pages folious appearances a consideration on our ways of lettering books by j tupling 1854 27 pages historic bindings in the bodleian library oxford 1891 3 pages historical essay on the art of bookbinding. Grolier grolier ornamentali hardcover journals paperblanks. The 1552 bindings were produced in a parisian atelier that bound books for thomas wotton 15211587 of kent, who has been called the english grolier. Grolieri et amicorum latin for the property of jean grolier and his. Jean grolier, the prince of bibliophiles us toll free. In the woodcut illustrations some of the heads and bodies are repeated in different combinations to provide many portraits. Buy bookbindings from the library of jean grolier by the british museum. This book, first published in 1999, studies and compares two sixteenthcentury libraries. Grolier s books were richly bound in morocco or calf decorated with intricate designs in gold and colours. In fact, the execution of this style of binding made le gascon the most prominent person in bookbinding after the days of grolier.
He had his books bound in wonderful bindings covered in renaissance decoration of different designs. Hosting your ceremony at the grolier club provides an excellent opportunity to see your passion for french culture. Certified library binders must undergo an independent inspection by the library binding institute to certify that they have the equipment, experience, knowledge and expertise to manufacture book bindings that meet the specification of the american national standard for library binding. But it must be remembered, however, that grolier was a book collector and not a binder and that through his efforts a style was developed that made a great binder like le gascon a possibility. Bindings in the spotlight 6 trinity college library. Open set, on public view at the grolier club from february 19 to april 25, 2020, is an exhibition based on a competition, the title reflecting the two categories in which binders may competethe open category, in which the artist chooses which book to bind, and the set category, in which all participants bind the same book. Grolierii et amicorum for use by jean grolier and his friends. Libraries and the book trade publishing pathways by robin myers 200008 06. The grolier club was named for jean grolier, the renaissance collector who was renowned for his patronage of scholars and printers, for the magnificent bindings he commissioned, and for a generous habit of sharing his library with friends. See h m nixon, bookbindings from the library of jean grolier, london, 1965. Book collectors have always paid great attention to the bindings of books. The books remain the same, but the book binding research adds detail to our knowledge on this book or that book, or on this binding style or another binding style. On the upper cover of all grolier books is written io.