[Fine Binding | Julius Carter] Bookbinding in England and France

Fletcher, William Young. Bookbinding in England and France. London: Seeley & Co., 1897. Illustrated with 40 in-text black-and-white images of bindings, 17 color plates, three of which are double-page. Bound in dark brown crushed morocco with a most elaborate Grolier-esque strapwork design in gilt, accented with swirling gouges and fleurons. A tipped-in note mentions that the binding was done by "Julius Carter, binder of books for Queen Mary's Dolls' House Library". Five bands to spine with title and author to second compartment, and remaining compartments gilt-ruled and accented with the small gilt fleurons. Wide turn-ins of overlapping strapwork in gilt, stamped with gilt fleurons. Dark green, gold, and burgundy marbled endpapers. Loosely inserted is the original hand drawn pattern for the binding. Bookplate of Phiroze K. Randeria, renowned collector of works on the book arts. Small spots of wear to front cover and spine, along with some minor gilt loss. (Less noticeable than it would be normally due to the elaborate nature of the decoration.) Two small gouges along the rear board edge, similarly one to the bottom rear board edge. Small splits to leather being joined at the lower corners of the front and rear turn-ins. Some rippling to the text block.

Though some recent literature has noted that Sangorski & Sutcliffe bound all the books in the Queen Mary's Dolls' House Library, this is not accurate. "The binding of the books was the work of several firms, all of whom gave their services, including Birdsall & Son, Robert Riviere & Son, Sangorski & Sutcliffe, and Zaehnsdorf" (The Zaehnsdorfs, Broomhead). These binderies are also referenced in The Book of the Queen's Dolls' House Library (1924) by E.V. Lucas. As such, if Julius Carter was indeed one of the finishers of volumes for the Dolls' House Library, it's possible he was employed by one of these binderies.