Publishers' Binding Thursday
I found this book while browsing the stacks in search of a good publishers' binding. This one does not disappoint! This is Italian Hours by American-British author Henry James, published in 1909 by Houghton Mifflin Co. Italian Hours is a book of travel essays about Italy, a country that James loved, that are considered very charming but not unrealistic. This edition features illustrations of Italian scenes by American etcher, lithographer, and illustrator Joseph Pennell.
The cover features a mosaic-esque design stamped in gold with a blue florals and flourishes and leafy green patterns. The book cloth is a brickish red-orange color and the spine features a motif similar to that of the front cover. There's nothing special about the endsheets, which is always a disappointment to me. I just wish more people paid attention to the endsheets! But otherwise it's a very nice binding.
View more Publishers' Binding Thursday posts here.
-- Alice, Special Collections Department Manager
