The most famous bookbinder of his day. English, mid 18th century.
Edwards of Halifax. Transparent vellum, decorated with a
gilt-tooled Doric and curved floral border; sphinxes in bottom
corners, satyrs' masks in top corners. On front cover, seated, a
draped female holding a shield inscribed 'J.J.'; on the back, a
youth reclining with a pipe. This binding style was invented and
made popular by the firm of Edwards, which began operating in
Halifax, Yorkshire, in the 1780s and soon moved to London.
