#beautiful bindings

[ebonetnoir]

I never set out to become an antiquarian bookseller. Serendipity and a series of strange events led me here. Looking back it all makes so much sense. I wish you all a wonderfully bookish day! 

[bombshell-manual]

[riesenfeldcenter]

The Code of Civil Procedure and Other General Statutes of Oregon (1863)  

This neat book comes from Oregon (1863) only four years after statehood. It features a simple wrapped leather cover, more or less branded with the owner's initials (A.J.T.). The homemade cover with blind tooling is stitched to the book with some (few) thin threads. We dubbed it our first “cowboy binding.”  

The book's owner, Andrew J. Thayer, had trained as a lawyer in New York, before embarking on the Oregon Trial in 1853. Later appointed U.S. attorney for Oregon, he contested an election for representative a year after statehood in 1860. Controversially, the election was disputed, and Thayer soon lost his seat. Later he was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court, and his brother, William Thayer, served as a state governor.   

[ebonetnoir]

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY First Collected Edition Complete in 22 Volumes Illustrated by the Author Works Include: Vanity Fair (2 volumes) Pendennis (2 volumes) The Newcomes (2 volumes) The Adventures of Philip (2 volumes) Henry Esmond The Virginians (2 volumes) The Irish Sketch Book/Yellowplush Papers The Paris Sketch Book/Cornhill to Cairo The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq., Great Hoggarty Diamond The Book of Snobs, Travels in London, etc. Burlesques The Christmas Books Ballads and Tales The Four Georges/English Humorists Roundabout Papers, etc. Dennis Duval/Lovel/The Widower, etc. Catherine/Little Travels/Fitzboodle Papers, etc. MAESTRO BOUND IN LEATHER ILLUSTRATED WITH HUNDREDS OF ILLUSTRATIONS/PLATES COMPLETE 22 VOLUME SET FROM 1869 (Does not include the 2 additional volumes published in 1889). FIRST COLLECTED EDITION OF THACKERAY'S WORKS Publisher: Smith, Elder & Company, London Copyright: 1869

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[ebonetnoir]

I sell books for a living but I’m also book obsessed. Love those Golden Era bindings. Grab these beauties at my shop.

[ebonetnoir]

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Gorgeous Bindings Classic Bookcover Postcards, Exclusively Designed, Professionally Printed Correspond in style! Send your best wishes, bookish thoughts, and greetings with these gorgeous book cover postcards. Printed on professional quality, matte 350gsm silky smooth cardstock, these postcards feature a classic French "Carte Postale" design in the back, and are 100% USPS compatible. These post cards are fantastic for book lovers of all ages. They look great framed as well. • Set of 12, double sided postcards (2 of each design) • 4" x 6" premium 350gsm cardstock • Luxurious matte finish on both sides • Postcard sets are packaged in cellophane bag • Envelopes and postage not included Exclusively Designed by Ebon et Noir, LLC.

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[tartanchesterfield]

One of my prettiest books, both inside and out.

[riesenfeldcenter]

One of the most beautiful early printed works on English law (or at least church law as it applied in England) is the Prouinciale, seu Constitutiones Anglie.

We have several editions of the work, the earliest from 1501.  Woodcuts and two-color printing make these particularly eye-catching works of art.  An earlier post on our 1505 edition also shows the elegant page layout, with central text and commentary surrounding.

Our earliest copy is in an original binding featuring blind-stamped dragons.  Though somewhat rubbed, you can still see teeth and what looks more like a reindeer nose than a dragon snout?  Maybe more flying cur than mythical beast...