Kelliegram (6 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Robert Anning Bell (illustrator). New Edition. Lovely Kelliegram binding (5-1/2" x 8-3/4") by Kelly & Sons in full dark green levant morocco leather with dark brown leave inlays on the covers and spine which is also gilt-lettered with five raised bands, gilt-decorated dentelles, silked endpapers, top edge gilt. With the gilt-stamped "Kelliegram Binding" on the bottom of the rear inside cover. Copy #26 of 125 on Japanese vellum illustrated by Robert Anning Bell. Kelliegram bindings were an innovation of the English firm Kelly & Sons, a prominent London bindery that operated into the 1930s. A wonderful example of the style known for its elaborate pictorial leather inlays and onlays.

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 Thus. 230 x 140 mm. (9 1/8 x 5 1/2"). 1 p.l., xx, [8], 286 pp., [3] leaves (index). CHARMING EMERALD GREEN MOROCCO BY KELLY & SONS (stamp-signed on front turn-in; stamp-signed "Kelliegram" on rear turn-in), raised bands, spine lettered in gilt, ELEGANT INLAID DOUBLURES of tan morocco decorated with sinuous Art Nouveau vines, floral lozenge centerpieces (tulips at the front and snowdrops at the rear), and bright floral or botanic cornerpieces (roses in front, grapes at rear), the designs composed of many inlays in several complementary colors (featuring various greens as well as intense purple and bright red), scarlet watered silk endleaves, all edges gilt. In a (somewhat worn and faded) custom felt-lined clamshell box. Wood engraved title vignette and NINE CHARMING WOOD ENGRAVINGS BY THOMAS BEWICK. Spine a richer shade of green than the covers, doublures with a handful of tiny light specks, but the binding entirely unworn; internally with intermittent foxing (generally marginal), occasional offsetting or browning from illustrations, otherwise fine, the leaves fresh, bright and smooth. This is a charming printing--featuring Bewick woodcuts for the first time--of the most influential poem in blank verse from Milton to the Romantics, offered in a lovely binding by a long-lived leading modern English firm. First published in 1730, "The Seasons" was remarkably popular, being found almost universally in English homes, whether cottages or castles, for the better part of a century. Born in Scotland, James Thomson (1700-48) is credited with challenging the artificiality of English poetry and beginning a new era of sentiment for nature. His "Seasons" finds beauty in the wild places, as well as the cultivated fields, and sees in nature the reflection of the creator's bounty. In the present edition, the poem is accompanied by a biography of Thomson and by attractive pastoral scenes engraved by Thomas Bewick. More than any contemporaneous artist or printer, Bewick (1753-1828) was responsible for a renewed interest in wood engraving, having revolutionized it into an art form all its own. The present illustrations, many depicting romantic couples, are executed with Bewick's characteristic depth and delicacy. The contents of our volume are appropriately enhanced by a graceful Kelliegram binding. The firm of Kelly & Sons had one of the longest histories in the London binding trade, having been founded in 1770 by John Kellie, as the name was then spelled. The firm was continued by successive members of the family into the 1930s. William Henry Kelly helped to develop the company in the first half of the 19th century, and he was succeeded by William Henry Kelly, Jr., then Henry Kelly, and finally Hubert Kelly, who took control in 1892. Under Hubert's direction, the bindery became known for its fanciful pictorial elements, although here they are atypically large and found inside, rather than on, the covers. The doublure scenes employ at least 10 different consonant colors of morocco and much incising to give a fine level of detail.

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.

Condition: Fine. New edition. A Fine copy. Octavo (8 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches; 216 x 134 mm.). xxiv, 640 pp. Forty-five engraved vignette illustrations, with numerous engravings of flora, fauna, and landscapes in the text. Verso of front free endpaper with rectangular bookplate of Thos. D. Murphy. Bound ca. 1910 in a stunning Art Nouveau binding of dark green crushed morocco, handsomely gilt and inlaid, by Kelliegram (stamp-signed in gilt on rear watered silk endleaf) Covers with fanciful Art Nouveau-style frame formed by inlaid flowers of red and blue and leaves in two shades of green, these inlays connected by gilt dots, and the spaces between them featuring swooping gilt birds and sprinklings of gilt dots; raised bands, spine compartments tooled in gilt with similar inlaid leaves and flowers, turn-ins with gilt tendrils and continuing the bird, flower, and leaf motifs, the turn-ins enclosing pictorial morocco doublures, the front doublure depicting Gilbert White's vine-covered house in Selborne, the rear a slate-roofed country church and cemetery, moss green watered silk endleaves, all edges gilt. Original cloth spine bound in at rear. This New Edition, with notes by Edward Turner Bennett and others, is a lovely copy of White's beloved account of the wonders of nature, offered in a very pleasing pictorial binding from the firm that is best known for that kind of work. First published in 1789, White attempts to inspire readers to observe in their own backyards, "is open to everyone, for everyone has observed much of what it describes. Writer and reader each share the inheritance of the natural world, and delight in what is given, so that Selbourne becomes an expression of universal thanksgiving, treasured by all." (DNB) This cover design is animated and unusual, the gilt birds in flight adding a charming note of whimsy to the graceful Art Nouveau design. As with many Kelliegram bindings, pictorial inlays are prominently featured - though here they are atypically large and found inside, rather than on, the covers. The doublures represent two things dear to White's heart: his Selbourne home, "The Wakes," and a small country church like the one where he served as a perpetual curate, forsaking a more brilliant career in the church or at Oxford in order to remain in the place that he loved. The doublure scenes employ at least ten different consonant colors of morocco and much incising to give a fine level of detail. This copy makes for a prime example of a Kelliegram binding. 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. Fine.

New edition. Octavo (7 1/4 x 4 1/4 in; 180 x 116 mm). xvi, 392 pp. Nineteen black and white plates with tissue guards, sixty-five black and white text illustrations. Bound by Kelly & Sons ca. 1900 in an unusual Kelliegram (thus signed) binding of full crimson crushed morocco with gilt-decorated frame to covers, and multi-colored morocco inlaid portrait to spine. One raised band. Turn-ins with gilt corner pieces. All edges gilt. Green silk end leaves. Original red cloth covers and spine bound in at rear. With the bookplate of John J. Raskob. This biography celebrates the life and work of George Cruikshank. Cruikshank was and remains the most celebrated caricaturist and book illustrator of the 19th century. The previous owner, the noted book collector John Jakob Raskob, was a financial executive and businessman for DuPont and General Motors, and the builder of the Empire State Building. This unusual design makes for a surprising 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.