[Lorenz Schwartz Collection] The Enemies of Books
The Enemies of Books
by William Blades. London: Trubner & Co., 1880. Signed “The Zahn Bindery / Memphis” on front lower turn-in at center, “LS” on back lower turn-in (center). Full black morocco with a matching design on both covers: a large silverfish (bookworm) inlaid in white morocco to center of cover, tooled in gilt. (Modeled after a fold-out plate in the book between pp. 62 & 63.) Borders seem to be meant to approximate the “trail” of a bookworm through the pages of a book, but also include supplementary tooling with flowers, olive branches, and nailheads. Spine with five bands, and six ruled compartments: second and third featuring the title and author (with “ London 1880” at bottom of spine). First, and fourth through sixth compartments have more “bookworm paths,” olive branches, and nailheads. Wide double gilt-ruled turn-ins framing dark navy silk moire endpapers, with various art nouveau designs filled in with stippling, t.e.g.