ABSTRACT
The middle of the eighteenth century witnessed the introduction of the sawn back, whereby the bands on which the book is sewn, were let into the backs of the sheets, and thus no projection appears, as is seen in all bindings of a previous date. The artists of the earlier part of the period of which we have been treating must have been numerous, but few are known. A Glasgow schylus, folio, 1795, in earl Spenser's library, which contains many specimens of his binding, is considered to be the chef d'ouvre of his workmanship. Indeed, nothing that could tend to the embellishment and variety of modern bookbinding, appears to have been neglected; and a superiority in the execution of whatever has been attempted is a distinguishing feature of the times. The successful operation of some of the processes we have before referred to, may be attributable to the great improvements in machinery used in the art, produced of late years.
