the library-第10节
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ain unbound； but the primrose and lilac hues soon call out for the aid of the binder。
Much has been written of late about book…binding。 In a later part of this manual we shall have something to say about historical examples of the art； and the performances of the great masters。 At present one must begin by giving the practical rule； that a book should be bound in harmony with its character and its value。 The bibliophile； if he could give the rein to his passions； would bind every book he cares to possess in a full coat of morocco； or （if it did not age so fast） of Russia leather。 But to do this is beyond the power of most of us。 Only works of great rarity or value should be full bound in morocco。 If we have the luck to light on a Shakespeare quarto； on some masterpiece of Aldus Manutius； by all means let us entrust it to the most competent binder； and instruct him to do justice to the volume。 Let old English books； as More's 〃Utopia；〃 have a cover of stamped and blazoned calf。 Let the binder clothe an early Rabelais or Marot in the style favoured by Grolier； in leather tooled with geometrical patterns。 Let a Moliere or Corneille be bound in the graceful contemporary style of Le Gascon； where the lace…like pattern of the gilding resembles the Venetian point…lace； for which La Fontaine liked to ruin himself。 Let a binding； a la fanfare； in the style of Thouvenin； denote a novelist of the last century； let panelled Russia leather array a folio of Shakespeare； and let English works of a hundred years ago be clothed in the sturdy fashion of Roger Payne。 Again； the bibliophile may prefer to have the leather stamped with his arms and crest； like de Thou； Henri III。； D'Hoym； Madame du Barry； and most of the collectors of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries。 Yet there are books of great price which one would hesitate to bind in new covers。 An Aldine or an Elzevir； in its old vellum or paper wrapper； with uncut leaves； should be left just as it came from the presses of the great printers。 In this condition it is a far more interesting relic。 But a morocco case may be made for the book； and lettered properly on the back； so that the volume； though really unbound； may take its place with the bound books on the shelves。 A copy of any of Shelley's poems； in the original wrappers； should I venture to think be treated thus； and so should the original editions of Keats's and of Mr。 Tennyson's works。 A collector； who is also an author； will perhaps like to have copies of his own works in morocco； for their coats will give them a chance of surviving the storms of time。 But most other books； not of the highest rarity and interest； will be sufficiently clothed in half…bindings； that is； with leather backs and corners； while the rest of the cover is of cloth or paper； or whatever other substance seems most appropriate。 An Oxford tutor used to give half…binding as an example of what Aristotle calls ＇Greek text＇； or 〃shabbiness；〃 and when we recommend such coverings for books it is as a counsel of expediency； not of perfection。 But we cannot all be millionaires； and； let it be remembered； the really wise amateur will never be extravagant； nor let his taste lead him into 〃the ignoble melancholy of pecuniary embarrassment。〃 Let the example of Charles Nodier be our warning； nay； let us remember that while Nodier could get out of debt by selling his collection； OURS will probably not fetch anything like what we gave for it。 In half…bindings there is a good deal of room for the exercise of the collector's taste。 M。 Octave Uzanne； in a tract called 〃Les Caprices d'un Bibliophile；〃 gives some hints on this topic； which may be taken or let alone。 M。 Uzanne has noticed the monotony； and the want of meaning and suggestion in ordinary half…bindings。 The paper or cloth which covers the greater part of the surface of half…bound books is usually inartistic and even ugly。 He proposes to use old scraps of brocade； embroidery； Venice velvet； or what not； and doubtless a covering made of some dead fair lady's train goes well with a romance by Crebillon； and engravings by Marillier。 〃Voici un cartonnage Pompadour de notre invention；〃 says M。 Uzanne； with pride； but he observes that it needs a strong will to make a bookbinder execute such orders。 For another class of books； which our honest English shelves reject with disgust； M。 Uzanne proposes a binding of the skin of the boa constrictor； undoubtedly appropriate and 〃admonishing。〃 The leathers of China and Japan； with their strange tints and gilded devices may be used for books of fantasy； like 〃Gaspard de la Nuit；〃 or the 〃Opium Eater；〃 or Poe's poems； or the verses of Gerard de Nerval。 Here； in short； is an almost unexplored field for the taste of the bibliophile； who； with some expenditure of time； and not much of money； may make half…binding an art； and give modern books a peculiar and appropriate raiment。
M。 Ambrose Firmin Didot has left some notes on a more serious topic；the colours to be chosen when books are full…bound in morocco。 Thus he would have the 〃Iliad〃 clothed in red； the 〃Odyssey〃 in blue； because the old Greek rhapsodists wore a scarlet cloak when they recited the Wrath of Achilles； a blue one when they chanted of the Return of Odysseus。 The writings of the great dignitaries of the Church； M。 Didot would array in violet； scarlet goes well with the productions of cardinals； philosophers have their sober suit of black morocco； poets like Panard may be dressed in rose colour。 A collector of this sort would like； were it possible； to attire Goldsmith's poems in a 〃coat of Tyrian bloom； satin grain。〃 As an antithesis to these extravagant fancies； we may add that for ordinary books no binding is cheaper； neater； and more durable； than a coat of buckram。
The conditions of a well bound book may be tersely enumerated。 The binding should unite solidity and elegance。 The book should open easily； and remain open at any page you please。 It should never be necessary； in reading； to squeeze back the covers； and no book； however expensively bound； has been properly treated； if it does not open with ease。 It is a mistake to send recently printed books to the binder； especially books which contain engravings。 The printing ink dries slowly； and； in the process called 〃beating；〃 the text is often transferred to the opposite page。 M。 Rouveyre recommends that one or two years should pass before the binding of a newly printed book。 The owner will； of course； implore the binder to； spare the margins； and； almost equally of course； the binder； durus arator； will cut them down with his abominable plough。 One is almost tempted to say that margins should always be left untouched； for if once the binder begins to clip he is unable to resist the seductive joy； and cuts the paper to the quick； even into the printed matter。 Mr。 Blades tells a very sad story of a nobleman who handed over some Caxtons to a provincial binder； and received them back MINUS 500 pounds worth of margin。 Margins make a book worth perhaps 400 pounds； while their absence reduces the same volume to the box marked 〃all these at fourpence。〃 Intonsis capillis； with locks unshorn； as Motteley the old dealer used to say； an Elzevir in its paper wrapper may be worth more than the same tome in morocco； stamped with Longepierre's fleece of gold。 But these things are indifferent to bookbinders； new and old。 There lies on the table； as I write； 〃Les Provinciales； ou Les Lettres Ecrites par Louis de Montalte a un Provincial de ses amis； & aux R。R。 P。P。 Jesuites。 A Cologne； Ches PIERRE de la VALLEE； M。DC。LVIII。〃 It is the Elzevir edition； or what passes for such； but the binder has cut down the margin so that the words 〃Les Provinciales〃 almost touch the top of the page。 Often the wretchhe lived； judging by his style； in Derome's time； before the Revolutionhas sliced into the head… titles of the pages。 Thus the book； with its old red morocco cover and gilded flowers on the back； is no proper companion for 〃Les Pensees de M。 PASCAL （Wolfganck； 1672）；〃 which some sober Dutchman has left with a fair allowance of margin； an inch 〃taller〃 in its vellum coat than its neighbour in morocco。 Here once more； is 〃LES FASCHEUX； Comedie de I。 B。 P。 MOLIERE； Representee sur Le Theatre du Palais Royal。 A Paris； Chez GABRIEL QUINET； au Palais； dans la Galerie des Prisonniers； a l'Ange Gabriel； M。DCLXIII。 Avec privilege du Roy。〃 What a crowd of pleasant memories the bibliophile； and he only； finds in these dry words of the title。 Quinet； the bookseller； lived 〃au Palais；〃 in that pretty old arcade where Corneille cast the scene of his comedy； 〃La Galerie du Palais。〃 In the Geneva edition of Corneille； 1774； you can see Gravelot's engraving of the place； it is a print full of exquisite charm （engraved by Le Mure in 1762）。 Here is the long arcade； in shape exactly like the galleries of the Bodleian Library at Oxford。 The bookseller's booth is arched over； and is open at front and side。 Dorimant and Cleante are looking out； one leans on the books on the window…sill； the other lounges at the door； and they watch the pretty Hippolyte who is chaffering with the lace…seller at the opposite shop。 〃Ce visage vaut mieux que toutes vos chans
