2nd edition “The History of Signboards, From the Earliest Times to the Present Day” by Jacob Larwood & John Camden Hotten. Rare early Melbourne marbled and half leather binding.

An extremely rare early edition of an important work, “The History of Signboards, From the Earliest Times to the Present Day” by Jacob Larwood, and John Camden Hotten, second edition, 1866. An inscription within dating to 1868, and rebound during that period (late 1860s to 70s) with antique emerald leather half-bindings with marbled coverboards. 

What is particularly interesting is the interior label for J Pownceby of Melbourne, bookbinder. While bookbinding businesses existed in Australia as early as turn of the nineteenth century, by the 1860s there were only a few business of note, Pownceby being one of them. John Pownceby of Melbourne advertised in 1874 as having begun in 1862, making him one of the earliest Melbourne bookbinders.

Australian craft bookbinders were well regarded, receiving a number of awards from the 1851 London Exhibition onward.

It is likely that having had the original volume shipped from England to Melbourne, the original owner of this volume then had it rebound with the original spine and with the added exquisite detail of marbled coverboards, when it was then likely kept as a prized volume by its original owner or gifted to a treasured friend. The inscription within is by James Quick, 1868, who would likely be one of the early settlers in Melbourne.

This makes it a unique early edition of this rare and important book, representing both English and Australian history.

Price marked at $450 AUD.

Very good antique condition with wear to corners and light rubbing to coverboards as pictured. Gilt in good condition, pages in good condition. Historic inscription indicating provenance as indicated on cover page. Illustrations bright and vivid. Light wear overall commensurate with historic ephemera.