[Fine Binding | Christina J. Sketchley] Poems

Shelley, Percy Bysshe. Poems. London: George Bell and Sons, 1902. Illustrated throughout by Robert Anning Bell in black and red. Bound in black crushed morocco by Christina J. Sketchley with a deep red inlaid diamond strap pattern around the edges of both boards, dotted and ruled in gilt. Spine features six compartments, one with the title and author, the remaining with two dotted squares and small inlaid red dots in each corner. Full black and deep red morocco doublures with three gilt rules and three inlaid dots at each corner. Japan vellum endpapers. Top edge gilt. Handwritten presentation inscription to the front endpaper which reads "To Dr. Stabb / in gratitude / from Christina J. Sketchley". Measures approx. 5.5" x 8". Spots of rubbing to corners and spine bands, along with some small losses to the inlaid pattern at the bottom left of the front cover. Small chips on either side of the bottom spine tip. Foxing to pages.

Another C.J. Sketchley bookbinding was exhibited at the Ninth Exhibition of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society, mentioning the design was by Sketchley, the execution by E. Gertrude Farran. A review of the exhibition by "The International Studio" (1910) features an image of that volume, as well. In addition, Christina was the sister to Rose E.D. Sketchley, most well known as the author of English Book Illustration of To-Day (1903), and often seen in periodicals of the time, including this article on "Book-Bindings".