Philobiblon

Description Exhibitions Provenance Credit

Description In 1889, the Grolier Club of New York City published this three-volume edition of Richard de Bury's Philobiblon (The Love of Books), essays on librarianship composed in 1344. Founded in 1884, the Grolier Club is one of the most influential bibliographic societies, and Henry Walters was a member. Léon Gruel included the club's insignia in the binding, which he gave to Walters as a token of his admiration. Triple back-to-back bindings are extremely rare; Gruel explains in his dedication that this is the only one he had ever made.

Exhibitions

Bookbindings from the Gilded Age. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2013-2014.

Provenance Acquired by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1901; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters, 1901

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Creators

Richard de Bury (United Kingdom, 1287 - 1345) (Author)
Léon Gruel (French, 1841-1923) (Binder)
The Grolier Club (Publisher)

Period

1889

Medium

ink on paper bound between boards covered with goatskin, gold, and patterned silk
(Manuscripts & Rare Books)

Accession Number

92.1220

Measurements

H: 7 5/8 × W: 6 1/2 in. (19.37 × 16.51 cm)

Geographies

USA, New York, New York (Place of Origin)
((not assigned))

Location Within Museum

Not On View