A portfolio-sized book, quarter bound in smooth white vellum, with burnished white vellum on card boards.

1881 [1880]

Vellum binding with gilt lettering and decorated panels in red line.

16¾ x 13½ inches

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Photograph and text by Simon Cooke

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Perhaps the greatest of the Dalziels’ achievements, this monumental book contains wood-engravings on India paper by Frederic Leighton, Simeon Solomon, G.F. Watts and Ford Madox Brown. Unsigned, the binding relates the volume to medieval incunabula, invoking the craftsmanship of early printed books embellished by woodcuts. Priced at 5 guineas (at least £200 in modern sterling) and limited to several small, numbered editions, it was a financial failure; early purchasers noted the impracticality of the binding, which easily stained and is rarely found today in pristine condition. Spare, simple and physically imposing, the binding has genuine gravitas; it is a pity that its author is unknown and surprising that the Dalziels neglect to tell us.

References

Dalziels’ Bible Gallery. London: George Routledge, 1881 [1880]..

Created 5 September 2015