Memoirs of Mary, The Young Duchess of Burgundy, and Her Contemporaries

London: Richard Bentley, 1853. Fine Binding. Very Good Indeed. 8" by 5". Not Stated. A copy of this scarce work by Louisa Stuart Costello, in handsome binding by August De Decker-Lemaire from Ghent. A very comprehensive history of the Mary of Burgundy, who reigned over the Burgundian state, in modern day France, from 1477 until her unfortunate death in a riding accident at age twenty-five. Written by Louisa Stuart Costello (1799-1870) was an Anglo-Irish writer on travel and French history, said to have been born either in Ireland or Sussex.Including fourteen plates, one in colour. Collated and complete. Fully bound in August De Decker-Lemaire fine binding. August De Decker (Ghent, September 14, 1855 – February 15, 1940) came from a Ghent bookbinder's family. By restoring an old leather binding in 1885 , he became acquainted with the technique of leather driving , a technique that had already been completely supplanted for book bindings in the fifteenth century by the easier technique of making blind stamps on the leather in combination with applying of gilding. He acquired a certain notoriety in 1933 when he designed a binding made of human skin for an anonymous collector. Handsomely bound in full morocco by August De Decker-Lemaire. Externally, excellent, with raised metal mounts to the boards, as is custom for De Decker-Lemaire binding. Internally, generally firmly bound. Frontispiece plate has detached but is present. A few odd spots throughout and to the frontispiece plate, but otherwise pages bright and clean. Very Good Indeed