Chivers Binding

Lodge, Thomas. The Story of Rosalynde. London: George Newnes, 1902.

8vo (8 x 5 1/8 ins; 201 x 132 mm).  10 illustrations by Edward Sullivan. Cedric Chivers of Bath vellucent pictorial vellum binding stained in red, lilac and green, with gilt rules and translucent heart onlay, stamped signed in gilt on lower turn-in, executed and designed by Jessie M. King; covers slightly bowed and vellum darkened, small crack at lower joint of upper cover and upper joint of lower cover.

"The most beautiful and certainly the most ornate of the bindings was done by Chivers in 1902 in what the firm called their Vellucent binding, for a copy of The Story of Rosalynde. " [Colin White, The Enchanted World of Jessie M. King.]

the most desired of the king designs for chivers, this copy also a presentation from the binder "To the Lady de Blaquiere | As a souvenir with the grateful thanks of Cedric Chivers | feb 27| 25" One of 30 on Japon, signed by the illustrator The lady who received such a handsome gift was most likely Lucienne de Blaquiere (1865-1942), wife of the 6th Baron de Blaquiere of Ardkill, Sir William de Blaquiere. King designs for Chivers are less common than some of the other female designers who were more regularly employed by the bindery. A version of this binding is in the Wormsley Library, though with the heart replaced with a thistle.