A Catalogue of Books Bound by S.T. Prideaux Between MDCCCXC and MDCCC With Twenty-Six Illustrations
London: [1900]. Limited Edition. Hardcover. One of 200 copies, octavo size, 26 pp. plus 26 plates. Very good +. Item #24101617
A catalogue of the bindings done by Prideaux "during the last ten years...[offered] to my friends in England and America" (n.b., from the Note, p. [6]).
"Sarah Treverbian Prideaux (1853-1933), born in London... S.T. Prideaux ended up as one of the most distinguished female bookbinders and binding designers of her time, even though she began at age 35. She was lucky enough to receive training from the noted Zaehnsdorf family, and began producing bindings heavily influenced by the Art Nouveau style" (n.b., from the web site of the Bookbinders Museum).
This the first edition, one of 200 copies (not the 1970s reprint) with twenty-six black-and-white plates, which showcase the beauty of her designs. In addition to the plates, Prideaux wrote a magnificent Preface which gives insight into her philosophy of binding.
Printed with her colleague Katharine Adams (1862-1952), also justly famous for the beauty and intricacy of her bindings. Adams used tools she herself had made which are now held by the British Library.
___DESCRIPTION: Bound in blue laid paper-covered boards with a natural linen shelfback, black lettering and printer's device on the front board, initials "E.F." with the date of 1901 written at the top of the front free endpaper in black ink, tissue-guarded title page with the same printer's device (intertwined acorns and oak leaves with the initials "S T P" below), limitation statement follows the title page, this no. 138 of 200 copies, this followed by the Preface and Note, then the Catalogue itself, followed by the List of Illustrations, the colophon, and lastly the plates; binding octavo size (8 1/2" by 5 7/8"), pagination: [i-v] 1-20 [1, "Plates" divisional title page] [26 plates printed only on the rectos].
___CONDITION: Better than very good, the binding structurally strong but with light overall wear and offsetting, the top corners lightly bent, the bottom corners straight and all without rubbing, solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and other than the intials at the top of the FFEP free of prior owner markings; the shelfback sunned and with some offsetting, two shallow dents on the edges of the bottom boards. Overall a near fine interior with a very good binding.
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Price: $500.00