Walter Scott. Lay of the Last Minstrel. 1854

This cover design, though not signed, is attributed to John Leighton. It is full of mediaeval symbolism so beloved of the mid-Victorian period. This copy has the same design as the British Library copy (shelf mark 11642e27), and a full description is in the Library's database of Bookbindings at:

 http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/bookbindings/

This copy has the spine; the BL copy lacks the spine. This copy formerly belonged to Robin de Beaumont, whose book plate is on the upper pastedown. This copy is inscribed on the upper pastedown:
1. "Mary Ogle/ from her Husband./ Jany 23rd 1854./"
2. For Edmund/ from the rest of the King/ Family on his 25th wedding/ anniversary/ 1999/"

The text is sewn on three tapes. Gilt edges/. bevelled boards. Red morocco horizontal-grain cloth.

Scott's Lord of the Isles

Scott's Lord of the Isles. 1857.

 

 

This handsome cover design, by John Leighton, is on Scott's Lord iof the Isles, published by Adam and Charles Black in 1857. The cover design is identical to the British Library copy, apart from the cloth dye and grain pattern.

The British Library copy, and a full description of the design, is available to view in the British Library Database of Bookbindings shelfmark C109bb3 

http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/bookbindings/

The British Library copy is bound in red morocco vertical-cloth. It has a Leighton, Son and Hodge binder's ticket.

The copy above is bound in green morocco horizontal-grain cloth. It is sewn on three tapes. The closer one looks at the details of the design, the more impressive is the amount of fine detail blocked within the central medallion showing the lion rampant. The placement of the title and author letters within the ribbon decoration surroundinbg the medallion must have demanded good skills in registration by the binders. Also intriguing are the recessed panels (probably painted in blaue after blocking). It is possible that the blocking of the cloth covers took place after the covers were attached to the boards and the text block.

As for the spine design, look for yourself and wonder at the amount of precise heraldic motifs packed into a small space.

Written by Edmund M. B. King March 2014