[SOLD] The History of Writing by Henry Noel Humphreys, 1855

[SOLD] The Origin and Progress of the Art of Writing or The History of Writing by Henry Noel Humphreys, Day and Son, London, 1855. Containing twelve chromolithographic plates, with an additional 15 (uncoloured) lithographic plates, as well as a number of woodcut illustrations to text. The process of chromolithography, a fairly recent invention at the time of this book’s publication, allows for a rich and vibrant appearance in coloured illustrations.
 
The covers are bound in a black painted papier-maché relief, mimicking a carved wood binding. The upper and lower covers display the title  (‘The History of Writing’) worked in the manner of an illuminated initial, with the ‘T’ enveloping the rest of the title (see images above). Through the use of papier-maché, an elegant and detailed design is achieved, in a Victorian gothic manner. The black papier-maché is contrasted by the red silk background, creating an aura of sophistication and grandeur. Due to the material and age of this binding, there are some hairline cracks on the cover.
 
All edges are gilt, with a gilt title on a red leather spine. The spine itself has some minor damping. All pages are clean and readable, with some minor foxing throughout, to be expected with age. In all a well preserved and clean copy of a rarity in papier-maché bindings. A highly displayable piece of book-art.
 
‘[A supreme example] of Victorian Gothic and perhaps the biggest triumph of all the ingenuities of Victorian commercial book-binding’ - McLean, Victorian Book Design & Colour Printing (1972), pp.210-13