[Fine Binding | Gertrude Giles / Guild of Women Binders] Le Temple de Gnide

Montesquieu. Le Temple de Gnide suivi d'Arsace et Isménie. Nouvelle édition avec figures d'Eisen et de Le Barbier gravées par Le Mire. Preface by Octave Uzanne. Rouen: Chez J. Lemonnyer, 1881. Limited to 50 copies on Japon, of which this is #6; there were also 100 copies on Whatman paper, and 50 copies on China paper. With 15 full-page engravings after Eisen and Le Barbier, each in four states.

Bound by Gertrude Giles [of the Guild of Women Binders]--stamp signed by Giles on the rear doublure--in dark brown full grained morocco, covers with a border of inlaid red, green, and orange flower stamps, intertwining gouges, and light stippling. Five bands to spine with hand lettered title to second compartment, remaining compartments decorated with inlaid floral stamps, stippling, large gilt dots, and gouge work. Full pink morocco doublures with inlaid purple flowers and gouge work to corners. Japan vellum flyleaves with small gilt dots at corners. All edges gilt. Measures approx. 7.25" x 10.75". Some light rubbing to edges, corners bumped and rubbed. Gilt and inlay loss to one of the floral stamps at bottom spine compartment; some other minor gilt loss to spine tooling. 

Giles was one of several Guild binders whose work was shown at exhibitions, with at least one of her bindings sent to the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition in St. Louis. Several of Giles' bindings were included in the Sotheby sale of Guild and Hampstead Bindery work in 1904, with the primary floral tool used here also seen across other Guild bindings.