![[EDWARDS OF HALIFAX BINDING.] -- ARGENT, John. The Mine: A Dramatic Poem... to Which are Added, Two Historic Odes. London: T. Cadell, 1788.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2006/NYR/2006_NYR_01769_0390_000(122640).jpg?w=1)
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[EDWARDS OF HALIFAX BINDING.] -- ARGENT, John. The Mine: A Dramatic Poem... to Which are Added, Two Historic Odes. London: T. Cadell, 1788.
8o (157 x 97 mm). Engraved plates by Stothard and others. Near-contemporary vellum by Edwards of Halifax bindery, covers with gilt pentaglyph and metope roll border enclosing a Greek-key border, gilt leaf tools at the corners, smooth spine gilt-lettered and -decorated with crossed trumpet and wheat tools, board edges gilt, edges gilt (covers slightly bowed, some light rubbing.) Provenance: purchased from Harry A. Levinson, 1952.
Second edition, a fine example of Edwards of Halifax binding. James Edwards patented his method of rendering vellum translucent in 1785 (though it was certainly in use several years prior to this). This involved soaking the vellum in pearl ash solution and pressing it heavily. The decoration could then be painted on the underside of the vellum, with the result that it was completely protected from dirt and scratches. The vellum was then lined with paper and the book covered in the normal way, usually with a "French-groove" and laced-in vellum slips. Most examples have a gilt border of a "Greek-key" or one of several variations of metope and pentaglyph roll tooled over a wash background.
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Second edition, a fine example of Edwards of Halifax binding. James Edwards patented his method of rendering vellum translucent in 1785 (though it was certainly in use several years prior to this). This involved soaking the vellum in pearl ash solution and pressing it heavily. The decoration could then be painted on the underside of the vellum, with the result that it was completely protected from dirt and scratches. The vellum was then lined with paper and the book covered in the normal way, usually with a "French-groove" and laced-in vellum slips. Most examples have a gilt border of a "Greek-key" or one of several variations of metope and pentaglyph roll tooled over a wash background.