De La Rue, Cornish & Rock Embossed Album
Commonplace book, album of poetry, prints and watercolors compiled by Mrs. Priscilla Vickers of Bridgenorth, Shropshire, England.
[London: De La Rue, Cornish & Rock], ca. 1829-1832.
Price: $950.00
About the item
22 original drawings, numerous plates (some hand-colored) pasted-in, on variously colored leaves, some with embossed frames by De La Rue & Co, London, manuscript verses throughout. [57] ll. Square 8vo. De La Rue, Cornish & Rock Embossed Album. Contemporary dark purple morocco, covers embossed in blind with large die of a rococo frame design surrounding a central diamond, gilt-ruled border, spine embossed in blind by a die with a cathedral design, titled in gilt and signed by the binder (“De La Rue, Cornish & Rock”) on the spine, a.e.g., pink moire pastedowns. Very slight rubbing to binding edges, light dampstaining to a few leaves, endpapers evidently removed. For binding, cf. Maggs 1212, II, no 241; Ramsden, London Bookbinders, p. 59.
Item #265137
A commonplace book of particular interest for its embossed binding manufactured by De La Rue, Cornish and Rock. From 1829 through 1832 Thomas de la Rue (1793-1866) partnered with Samuel Cornish and William Rock to manufacture cards, embossed papers and playing cards. “[De La Rue] produced a number of fine albums, annuals, etc, stamped on the back and sides with very finely executed blind imprints …” (Ramsden). The De La Rue company, still in operation, is now one of the world’s largest printers of commercial notes and paper.
