Lives of the Engineers. The Steam-Engine. Boulton and Watt. [Fore-edge Painting].

SMILES, Samuel.

$800.00

Item Number: 135624

London: John Murray, 1878.

Finely bound example of Smiles’ work on Boulton and Watt. Octavo, bound in full polished calf by John Bumpus with gilt titles and ruling to the spine, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, ribbon bound in. Decorated with a beautiful disappearing fore-edge painting of a steam locomotive. In near fine condition. A very nice example.

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. Around 1750, the subject matter of fore-edge paintings changed from simply decorative or heraldic designs to landscapes, portraits and religious scenes, usually painted in full color. The technique was popularized in the 18th century 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.