Cyril Davenport: 4 books

In nine engaging and authoritative chapters, author Cyril Davenport tells the story of the book from its earliest incarnations—formation of words and palm-leaf books—to the evolution of the illustrated book as an art form. What emerges is an intriguing portrait of paper and printing, the art of bookbinding, and illustration styles such as engraving, mezzotints, and photography.

New series of 'Books about Books,' exclusively English in its aims, may seem to savour of the patriotism which, in matters of art and historical research, is, with reason enough, often scoffed at as a treacherous guide. No doubt in these pleasant studies patriotism acts as a magnifying-glass, making...

     I have purposely left to the last the subject of Bindings, as this, being more immediately cognate to Mr. Davenport's book, may fairly be treated at rather greater length. If the French dictum 'la reliure est un art tout français' is not without its historical justification, it is at least...

No doubt in these pleasant studies patriotism acts as a magnifying-glass, making us unduly exaggerate details. On the other hand, it encourages us to try to discover them, and just at present this encouragement seems to be needed. There are so many gaps in our knowledge of the history of books in England...