Painted by Mortimer Menpes, Text by Dorothy Menpes
IN FINE Vellucent Binding
Venice Painted by Mortimer Menpes, Text by Dorothy Menpes
A & C Black, 1904.
Second edition. 8vo. Finely bound by Cedric Chivers in full purple morocco, with two inlaid vellucent panels, containing miniature watercolours reproducing scenes of Venice. The upper cover is further decorated with an architectural design in gilt and four circular yellow morocco onlays. The smooth spine is decorated with the same column gilt decoration and two circular yellow morocco onlay. Single line gilt border on cover. Gilt ruled turn-ins and purple patterned endpapers. Top edge gilt. One hundred colour illustrations, under captioned tissue guards, by Menpes. A near fine with slight fading to the spine, and occasional light foxing. Bookplate on front pastedown.
Cedric Chivers' vellucent inlay bindings are beautiful and delicate, they came about when Chivers invented a process to make vellum translucent. The vignette designs were painted on a separate sheet and then had a thin piece of vellum laid over it. Bindings were offered in very small numbers due to the workmanship involved. Here the miniature details contrast against the deep purple morocco, whilst the gold tooling also draws the eye.
Inman 82.
Stock ID: 46489
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