Kelliegram Binding Thomson James (2 results)

Full Polished Brown Levant. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket. First Edition. Covers and spine with intricate gilt Art Deco designs. Central oval cameo on each cover depicting the four seasons. Violets and roses representing Spring and Summer on front cover. Grapes and winter lilies on rear cover for Autumn and Winter. The flowers are constructed of inlaid pieces of colored leather. All edges gilt. Gilt tooled inner dentelles. Blue silk endpapers. Original covers and spine are bound-in at rear. A SIGNED BINDING BY KELLIEGRAM. Illustrations through the text by Birket Foster, Noel Humphreys, F.R. Picklesgill, J. Wolfe, and G. Thomas. A crisp and clean copy throughout with one blemish, brown spot at top of pp.28-29. 228pp. Housed in a custom brown cloth drop-front lined box with gently-worn corners. Beautiful inlaid, colorful Kelliegram bindings wre among the many innovations of the English binding firm of Kelly and Sons. The Kelly family had one of the longest tenures in the history of the binding trade in London, founded in 1770 by John Kellie, as the name was then spelled. The firm was carried on by successive family members into the 1930's. This is a fine example of their craftsmanship. Please see photos. Size: Octavo.

First edition, second impression. A nearly Fine second impression with Hugh Thomson illustrations (published one month after the first impression). Octavo (7 x 4 5/8 inches; 178 x 117 mm.). xxxii, 286 pp. Forty-eight full-page illustrations and numerous drawings within the text. Some occasional light foxing, otherwise fine. Bound by Kelliegram ca. 1901 (stamp-signed 'Kelliegram Binding London' in gilt on rear turn-in). Full dark green morocco. with a double gilt border enclosing a varicolored morocco pictorial onlay reproducing part of the Hugh Thomson illustration on page 40: "Certain ladies who bow sweetly to me." Spine with five raised bands, decoratively tooled in a floral design and lettered in gilt in compartments, gilt board edges and turn-ins, red silk liners and endleaves, all edges gilt. A Kentucky Cardinal, and Aftermath is an antebellum romance spread over two novels written by James Lane Allen (1895-96). The books recount the story of the nature-loving naturalist Adam Moss who falls for Georgianna, a high society girl. The first book follows their courtship and the second their marriage. Allen's richly descriptive text is certainly influence by his youth spent in Kentucky. Here the book is brought to life through illustration and design.The artist, Hugh Thomson (1860-1920), was most famous for his illustrations of Austen's work, as well as the work of Charles Dickens. Known for his attention to detail, he would often spend a great deal of time in museums researching the lifestyles and dress of the characters he was depicting. With its amazing whimsical design, this copy is a prime example of a Kelliegram binding. Known for their highly detailed pictorial inlaid color leather bindings, the London-based firm Kelly and Sons was one of the longest running in the trade. Started in 1770 by John Kellie, various family members continued the business into the early twentieth century. Charming, beautiful, and occasionally whimsical, the inlaid designs were often inspired by in-text illustrations.