Maggs Bros. Ltd.

Very good, very slight scuffs to covers, the slightest trace of fading to spine, chemise a little worn around the edges but nonetheless very good, internally fine.

A remarkably well-preserved example of early 20th century fine trade bookbinding, in the original paper chemise from the London booksellers Farmer & Sons of Kensington High Street.

The binding is typical of the medium to high end stock which would have graced the shelves of most London booksellers, including Maggs. As was common practice, booksellers at this time would operate as bookshops, printers, engravers and bookbinders, often with the latter functions contracted out to the trade, although Farmer & Sons were unusual in operating their own steam-powered printing press on the Edgware Road. Whether the binding was also performed in-house is unknown, but it is perhaps more likely to have been the work of a trade bindery, as was the custom for booksellers such as Hatchards and Bumpus. Although not quite of the highest standard, the tooling is nonetheless extremely competent and the design simple but attractive.

The original paper chemise is an exceptionally rare survival, although certainly commonplace at the time; this was no doubt provided as a temporary dust jacket for customers to safely transport their purchases and would never have been intended to be preserved. Its presence offers a glimpse into the first-hand experience of browsing and purchasing fine bookbindings in London at the turn of the twentieth century.