QUATRE SIECLES DE RELIURE EN BELGIQUE 1500-1900

Brussels: Eric Speeckaert Expert-Libraire, 1989. stiff paper wrappers. Bookbinding. 4to. stiff paper wrappers. 315+(1); 404; 430 pages. Three volumes. First volume limited to 1,500 copies, of which 500 were for sale; second volume limited to 2,000 copies, with 1,000 for sale; third volume limited to 1,000 copies. Minor wear to spines, else condition of this complete set.



Antiquarian catalogues for "la haute bibliophilie" (III-5), i.e., exhibition/sale catalogues for three collections of Belgian bindings assembled by the antiquarian "Expert-Libraire" E. Speeckaert and exhibited in Speeckaert's own establishment (1989) or on the premises of the Bibliotheca Wittockiana (1993/1998-99). The majority of the bindings are from the 18th and 19th centuries, though there are also many older items. Vols. II and III were compiled by Sorgeloos, vol. I by Paul Culot. Listed are 144/185/190 bindings in volumes I-III respectively. 750+ illustrations in all. All volumes follow the same format: a black-and-white or color photograph of a binding (generally front cover and backing) appears on the left-hand side with text of the entry for that binding on the facing page. Entries identify binder when known, describe the binding, indicate contents (author, title, publisher), and discuss such things as style of decoration, provenance, information relating to the binder or various former owners, and other matters not necessarily restricted to binding. References may be given, and a binder's ticket is occasionally reproduced below the text. Preliminary sections of about twenty separate color illustrations in each volume offer additional views of covers of catalogue items, plus some endpapers and decorated edges. Insides of covers bear reproductions of Belgian binders' tickets (different for each volume).