[Fine Binding | John Grabau] The Guardian Angel

Holmes, Oliver Wendell. The Guardian Angel. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1867. First American edition. Bound in full light brown crushed morocco by John F. Grabau, featuring an elegant inlaid Arts & Crafts design of a large inlaid burgundy central ornament with navy border and four inlaid teal flowers and small green leaves, with vines in gilt extending outwards, accented with large inlaid green leaves and small red berries. Curving gilt rule around inner edge with small stars at corners and twisting gouges with smaller leaves in green at top and bottom. Similar ornamentation sans the circular ornaments and larger vines and leaves on rear cover. Four bands to spine with title and author to second and fourth compartments, and a compact version of the front cover design to first, third, and fifth compartments. Gilt ruled turn-ins with stars at corners. Top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Bookplate of Charles Cobb Walker by Rudolph Ruzicka on front pastedown. Measures approx. 4.75" x 7.25". A bit of light rubbing. Blind stamp of the New England Conservatory of Music on title page and p. 67 (deaccessioned in 2021). An excellent example of Grabau's work.

Grabau was a protégé of Louis H. Kinder and worked with the Roycrofters from 1902-1905. He left to found the short-lived Derome Bindery in Buffalo, and shortly thereafter, Grabau and D.J. Bunce founded The Garret Bindery, also in Buffalo. For the majority of his career, however, he bound under his own name.