The greatest collector of the Renaissance? French (Paris), mid
16th-century. Bound in brown calfskin, gold-tooled with elaborate
interlaced design painted yellow, pink and green, with circular
cartouche and open tools stippled in white. One of many books
collected by Jean Grolier (1489-1565), arguably the greatest
bibliophile of the Renaissance. Grolier patronised many of the best
binders in Paris, such as the craftsman known as 'Cupid's Bow
Binder' (named from one of his distinctive tools). Grolier's Latin
ownership inscription (translated as: 'the book of Jean Grolier and
of his friends') is near the foot of the cover, indicating that his
books were accessible to Grolier's intimate circle of friends.
