Christian Prayers, etc. London, 1584.

A copy of Christian Prayers, with the Psalms, printed in London in 1581 and 1584, is curiously bound in soft paper boards strengthened on the inner side with pieces of morocco and covered with pale tawny velvet.  It measures 7-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches.  The edges of the leaves are gilt and gauffred.

The arrangement of the design is unusual.  It starts from the centre of the back in the form of a broad ornamental border, extending towards the front edges along the lines of the boards.  This border is handsomely ornamented by a wavy line of silver cords, filled out with conventional flowers and arabesques worked in gold and silver cords and threads, with a little bit of coloured silk here and there.  A symmetrical design of flower forms and arabesques starts, on each board, from the centre of the inner edge of the border, and is worked in a similar way.  Some of the leaves, however, have veinings marked by strips of flat silver, and others made by a flattened silver spiral, having the appearance of a succession of small rings.  There are the remains of two pale orange silk ties on the front edges of each board, and the edges are gilt and gauffred with a little colour.

The petals of the flowers are worked in guimp, whether gold or silver is difficult to say.  Indeed in many instances of the older books it is difficult to be sure whether a metal cord or thread was originally gilded or not, as all these ‘gold’ threads are, or were, silver gilt, so that when worn the silver only remains.  If the cord or thread has been protected in any corners, however, or if it can be lifted a little, the faint trace of gold can often be seen on what would otherwise have been surely put down as originally silver.

[Illustration:  24—­Orationis Dominicae Explicatio, etc.  Genevae, 1583.]

Orationis Dominicae Explicatio, etc. Genevae, 1583.

There is in the British Museum a copy of Orationis Dominicae Explicatio, per Lambertum Danaeum, printed at Geneva in 1583, which belonged to Queen Elizabeth.  It is bound in black velvet, measures 6-3/4 by 4-1/4 inches, and is ornamented most tastefully, each side having an arabesque border in gold cord and silver guimp, enclosing a panel with a design of white and red roses, with stems and leaves worked in gold cord and silver guimp with a trifle of coloured silk on the red roses and on the small leaves showing between the petals.  On the front edge are the remains of red and gold ties.  The design of this charming little book is excellent, and the colour of it when new must have been very effective.  The design is the same on both sides.  The back is in bad condition, and is panelled with arabesques in gold and silver cord.

Bible. London, 1583.