(Jones, Owen). Illuminated Manuscript Book
London: Thomas de la Rue & Co, no date (ca. 1860s). 4to. Comprising lithographic title-page printed in black and in gold, and 208 pp., each printed with chromolithographic and gold ornamental borders of floral and arabesque designs, designed by Owen Jones. Publisher's full green morocco, elaborately decorated in blind and in gilt, extremities and joints rubbed and lightly worn; all edges gilt; gilt dentelles; patterned endpapers, printed in green and gold, by Jones; armorial book-plate of RHL-C de Beaumont on verso of front free endpaper, gutter at same worn; some leaves at front starting; several leaves at front ruled in pencil and with diagonal slits to insert with cards or other ephemera; scattered soiling and spotting; scattered offsetting and small patches of residue from when mounted with floral specimens; old ink drawing at center of p. 129, and partially at p. 69; old pencil inscription at p. 115.
A finely designed album, featuring impressive ornamental chromolithographic borders by influential English designer and architect Owen Jones. Likely produced in the 1860s, following the publication of Jones' seminal design sourcebook, The Grammar of Ornament (1856). Over his career Jones designed numerous types of stationery products for publisher Thomas de la Rue, this being for use as a scrap, manuscript, or card album.
