Dennis, John

4to (9 1/2 x 7 3/4 in.; 242 x 192 mm). Half-title; very faint scattered spotting. Contemporary English red morocco, elaborately tooled in gilt, with roll-tooled border and two panels, the inner enclosing two triangular leafy stems with acorns at points, both panels with ornate corner-pieces and clusters of flowers at the sides, the spaces between tooled with leafy stems and tulips, barbed roses, bunches of grapes, stars and doves, spine gilt in seven compartments, gilt dentelles and edges; some very light browning, a few inkstains on covers, but a fine clean copy with wide margins. Cloth case.

George Thorn-Drury (his sale at Sotheby's, 11 May 1931, lot 241, £15 to Dobell) — subsequently offered by Dobell at £21 in its catalogue no. 107 (1931), item 120, described as "in all probability the Dedication copy." acquisition: Bernard Quaritch, 2004

ESTC T22334; Nicoll II, p.318

This fine binding incorporates at least one distinctive tool observed on other, less elaborate, goatskin bindings produced at about the same time, at least one of which, on Boileau's Works, 2 vols., 1712-11, appears to have been the dedication copy presented to Charles, Lord Halifax. Another such binding is on Sir Richard Bulstrode's Original Letters written to the Earl of Arlington, for R. Sare...and sold by John Morphew, 1712, illustrated in Stuart Bennett's forthcoming Trade Bookbinding in the British Isles 1660-1800. That writer has ventured the speculation that the binder could conceivably be John Dunton's Thomas Knowles, described in The Life and Errors (1705) as "an ingenious and constant man at his Trade," who executed special bindings for Dunton on "that 'History of Living Men' and 'Athenian Oracle' which I lately dedicated and presented to the Prince of Denmark and Duke of Ormond with my own hand." Knowles was the youngest of Dunton's triumvirate of fine binders, which also included John Baker and Robert Steel, but nothing is known of Knowles's business circa 1710. Clearly whoever executed this binding was actively producing deluxe work for a number of customers, which means he was part of a small and select group at the top of the bookbinding trade of the period.