RAPIN, René S.J. Of Gardens, 1673 ~ Fine De Sauty binding

RAPIN, RENÉ, S.J. Of Gardens . . . First written in Latine Verse . . . and now made English by J[ohn] E[velyn the Younger].  Engraved arms of the dedicatee, Lord Arlington, on title and next leaf.  8vo, London: T. R. and N. T. for Thomas Collins et al., 1673.

A special copy of the first edition in English of Rapin’s 1665 Hortorum livri IV; second issue, with title dated 1673. 

Bright and fresh throughout and complete with both errata leaf and table not found in most copies, according to Evelyn Bibliographer, Geoffrey Keynes.

Beautiful brown morocco binding by Alfred De Sauty, one of the great American binders of the early 20th c. Embossed medallion centerpiece on covers depicting a gardener at work.                                                                    

The charming centerpiece is unique to this work and has not been found in any other De Sauty bindings.  

“Alfred de Sauty (1870-1949) was a bookbinder who produced tooled bindings of exceptional delicacy. De Sauty was active in London from approximately 1898 to 1923 and in Chicago from 1923 to 1935. His finest work is thought to be have been accomplished between 1905 and 1914. Many aspects of his life are poorly documented. For instance, scholars are unsure whether, when in London, de Sauty worked independently, for the firm of Riviere & Sons, or both. While in London, he may also have been a designer for the Hampstead Bindery and a teacher at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. When he lived in Chicago, de Sauty worked for the hand bindery of R. R. Donnelley & Sons. He signed his work at the foot of the front doublure, if present, and at the center of the bottom turn-in of the front upper board, if not. Works he produced in London are signed “de S” or “De Sauty.” Works he produced in Chicago are signed with his employer’s name, “R. R. Donnelly.” – Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries