
Pierre de Ronsard
Florilegrave des amours
Illustrations by Henri Matisse
Paris, ed. Albert Skira, 1948
Book no. 123/320 in Vel’n Chiffon paper, signed by the bookbinder and the artist, with 126 original litographs
Size: 38,9x29x4,3 cm.
Violet morocco tooled in gold
Gilded edges
Slipcase and case









I imagined that Le Livre des Origines was published in Québec 300 years ago as a contemporary account of a Huron youth's vision quest. A priest who was about to travel to the Great Lakes purchased a copy and commissioned a local bookbinder to create a lightweight yet protective binding so he could safely carry the book on his journey. This might be the result. The text block is sewn on five deerskin thongs, rounded and backed, and laced into an unsupported deerskin cover that has integral flaps to enclose the text. The marbled endpapers by Karli Frigge are in the 18th-century style; the endbands are of patterned cotton cloth; and the front cover has a brown goatskin onlay in the form of a turtle. The book is housed in a sewn linen carrying bag that has brown goatskin onlays in a tortoiseshell pattern on the flap. 9 x 5-3/4 x 1-1/8 inches. Bound 2005.
Full grey leather binding. Décor inspired by the Big Turtle. Title blind tooled on spine. Three color headbands. Green top edge. Green leather pastedowns. Decorated paper flyleaves. 8-3/4 x 5-1/2 inches. Bound 2005.








