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First and Only Edition. THREE VOLUMES, 4to, 13 x 10 inches. Vol 1, Vol 2: 1902; Vol 3 (the supplement): 1905. A stunning binding with SIX FULL INLAID DOUBLURES (see below) of ultimate quality and beauty, as befitting The Club Bindery. This is the vanishingly scarce full catalogue of books in Borden s collection, privately printed for M. C. D. Borden (1842-1912), famed antiquarian book collector and printed-cloth tycoon. The book is of great importance, though little bibliographic information has been written about it, owing to its scarcity. To our knowledge, no other copies have been located in institutional records, nor are there any auction or sales records of any kind. This particular copy, however, appears in Tom Boss "Bound to be the Best, The Club Bindery," Item 24, where he notes: [This binding] was probably commissioned by Borden for presentation to his friends." He further notes (in a private conversation) that since Borden was an avid customer of the Club Bindery, the binding was certainly finished by Leon Maillard, Club Bindery s finest, and arguably one of the best finishers in the United States. The book has been in private the private possession of a collector for the past 30 years. Expertly bound in full crimson levant morocco, Jansenist, with spine in six compartments, titles, etc in gilt. The six full-size doublures on the inner covers of all three volumes are magnificent, featuring crimson morocco, inlaid black border within gilt fillets, further inlaid black strapwork in a retrospective pattern over the entire doublure, creating compartments within which are large central ornaments made up of small tools, similar tools also making up cornerpieces, large top, bottom and side pieces, crimson morocco free endpapers bordered with double fillets, A.E.G, by the CLUB BINDERY, signed in gilt pallet in the three volumes: [vol 1 & 2]: 1902, and [vol 3, the supplement] 1906. ONE OF FIFTEEN COPIES ON JAPAN PAPER. Borden s catalog describes copious fine bindings from Club, Doves, and many other top flight binderies for which he was a client, but this binding, given the immensity of the book, three volumes, and complexity of the inlaid doublures, surely numbers among the elite bindings in his collection. 180pp; 192pp; 140pp. Each volume with an original lithograph drawing by James D. Smillie, dated 1901, numbered, No. 2, etc, all in pencil, by the artist, James David Smillie (1833-1909) a prominent American artist, and cofounder of the American Watercolor Society and New York Etching Club. His brother was painter George Henry Smillie. The books are housed in a wonderful red half-morocco slipcase with individual three-part fold-over cloth-covered boards as protectors, the whole made by Jacques Desmonts at the MacDonald Bindery, circa 1995, one of the last old-fashioned case makers. With minor wear to covers, internally fine, with the fabulous doublures in "as new" condition. A rarity opportunity to obtain the best of the best rarity.
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