The Book of Common Prayer

Exquisitely bound copy of The Book of Common Prayer.

• The Book of Common Prayer & Administration of the Sacraments & Other Rites and Ceremonies of The Church, according to the use of the Church of England together with the Psalter or Psalms of David.
• Cambridge: J.C. Clay, 1890s.
• Bound in full vellum by Cedric Chivers.
• Silk doublers with a large vellucent painting on front cover, signed by AS: Alice Sheperd, with all edges gilt.
• Housed in a slipcase.

About Chivers' binding method:

Around 1903, Cedric Chivers of Bath, England developed a remarkable method of decoration for the binding of books, the transparent vellum or “Vellucent” method. The process involved an artist painting on a super-thin surface medium and a sheet of vellum, shaved to translucent thinness, was laid over it, with the now indivisible pieces bound over boards. For the first time in the history of the bibliopegistic art, the actual work of the artist, undiluted by a translation through the hands of a binding technician, was involved in the decoration of the book. Using the “vellucent method,” it was also possible to incorporate further embellishments such as mother-of-pearl and iridescent shell and the like, all of which may be covered and permanently protected by the vellum. As The Graphic Arts and Crafts Year Book for 1908 wrote, “It is difficult indeed not to become enthusiastic over the idea of the gorgeous aspect of a wealthy booklover’s library of “Vellucent”-bound books, which may become at the same time a cabinet of works of art, each one of his choice and rare volumes bearing an unique specimen of the book decorator’s skill, and embellished with the most varied and brilliant effects.”