Belt and Spur: Stories of the Knights of the Middle Ages from the Old Chronicles. [Fore-Edge Painting].

[SEELEY, Emma Louise].

$1,250.00

Item Number: 131780

London: Seeley, Jackson, & Halliday, 1883.

Finely bound example of this classic on Knights and the Middle Ages. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, inner dentelles, illustrated with six illuminations, all edges gilt. With a disappearing fore-edge painting which reveals a jousting scene. In near fine condition.

The first known example of a disappearing fore-edge painting (where the painting is not visible when the book is closed) dates back to 1649. In the mid 18th century, the subject matter of fore-edge paintings evolved from simply decorative or heraldic designs to landscapes, portraits and religious scenes, usually painted in full color. The technique was popularized by John Brindley (1732-1756), publisher and bookbinder to the Prince of Wales and Edwards of Halifax, a distinguished family of bookbinders and booksellers. The majority of extant examples of fore-edge paintings date to the late 19th and early 20th century on reproductions of books originally published in the early 19th century, including the present volume.