Masonic Binding.- Black, (Robert, binder).- Anderson (James) The Constitutions

Masonic Binding.- Black, (Robert, binder).- Anderson (James) The Constitutions of the Antient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, revised by John Entick, engraved allegorical title, title in red & black, without Appendix, foxed and stained, A3 and Zz2 & 3 frayed at edges (reinforced), front free endpaper detached, contemporary dark red morocco tooled in gilt with elaborate border of pomegranates, bees, leafy fronds, small potted flowers etc. with masonic compass & sun to corners, upper cover with onlaid olive morocco label of names within ornamental border in gilt, presumably by Robert Black with his engraved trade card featuring masonic emblems mounted on front pastedown, spine gilt with lattice tooling to compartments, g.e., rather worn at corners and edges, spine defective, upper cover lacking portion at upper inner corner, both crudely repaired, 4to, W.Johnston, 1767. *** Very rare example of what was evidently once a fine masonic binding, and particularly interesting (as few masonic bindings are signed) for containing the trade card of the bookbinder Robert Black. Robert Black (1738-91) was a bookbinder, bookseller and publisher with a workshop in George Yard, Tower Hill. He succeeded his father Alexander in the workshop, was declared bankrupt in 1783 and the business taken over by his son James. Howard Nixon refers to an entry in the Treasurer's accounts for 1768 at Freemasons' Hall "Robt Black's Bill for Bindg Books £5.11s" (Five Centuries of English Bookbinding 75 p.170) but only a few bindings have been identified as being his work and, despite the masonic emblems on his trade card and one masonic publication issued under his name, none with masonic tools. G.D.Hobson lists a binding by him or his workshop on a copy of Anderson's Constitutions in English Bindings 1490-1940 in the Library of J. R. Abbey p.148 but this is a cottage-roof design and features no specific masonic motifs, likewise a similar binding in the collection of Robert Hoe.

Estimate:£750

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