Five Rare Books for Collectors: Fore-edge painting

Jeff Weber Rare Books

1618 Bible 

Highlights from Jeff Weber Rare Books' latest catalogue, Masterpieces of Fore-edge Painting including:

* Bible [Latinus bibliis editionis vulgatae], Antwerp, ex Officina Plantiniana Plantin, 1618. 

An unusual early armorial fore-edge painting depicting a crest of six [black] birds or starlings[?] in a floral setting, colored in reds, greens and indigo. It is unclear if this is an English fore-edge painting or a Belgian fore-edge. The previous binding on this book, likely 18th century, was difficult to identify since it was a fragment, however, the provenance would suggest a Belgian binding.

* Robert Burns, Poems [miniature]. Kilmarnock, 1786 [1904]. 

Fore-edge painting depicting a countryside scene, probably painted in the 1990s. Many miniature fore-edge paintings were commissioned by Anne Bromer, Boston, during this period. This miniature is not much larger than a thumbnail, and the painting is so very small that it should have been a challenging task for the artist.

* John Watson, The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Halifax in Yorkshire. London: T. Lowndes, 1775. [Fore-Edge Painting].

Original Etruscan calf binding by Edwards of Halifax with a splendid contemporary fore-edge painting depicting 'The South East View of Halifax in Yorkshire' after an engraved plate by Mazell, drawn by Williams. This is one of the rare bird’s-eye views of Halifax that Edwards produced of their hometown.  

Robert Burns, Poems [miniature]
1/4
John Weber Rare Books

Robert Burns, Poems [miniature]

John Watson, The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Halifax in Yorkshire
2/4
John Weber Rare Books

John Watson, The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Halifax in Yorkshire

John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga
3/4
John Weber Rare books

John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga

Christopher Idle, Hints on Shooting and Fishing
4/4
John Weber Rare Books

Christopher Idle, Hints on Shooting and Fishing

* John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga. London: William Heinemann Ltd., [1929].

Fore-edge painting by Miss C. B. Currie, depicting 'A view of Maidenhead Bridge', signed, titled, and numbered 164 by the artist, circa 1928/29. Maidenhead is mentioned in Galsworthy’s The Forsyte Saga. Currie fore-edge paintings are rare on the market. Caroline Billin Curry, who signed her name under the pseudonym of “Miss C.B. Currie” worked on behalf of Henry Sotheran’s of London. Only 172 fore-edge paintings are known by her. She is also the first British artist, working professionally, to sign her name to these paintings. 

* Christopher Idle [pseudonym], Hints on Shooting and Fishing, &c. Both on sea and land.... London: Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, 1855. 

First edition. Fore-edge painting by Miss C. B. Currie, signed, depicting 'A view of Sonning Bridge', titled, and numbered 136 by the artist (c.1927/28). All known fore-edge paintings by Ms. Currie were signed either with her inked signature or a gilt-stamped signature (the earliest form). The signed limitation page (or “colophon” page) is unique in fore-edge painted books and was the form created by Rivière and Stonehouse of Sotheran’s. All of her fore-edge paintings appear on Rivière bindings, all created for Sotheran’s.