Chivers Signed Binding, 1910, Virginibus Puerisque by Robert Lewis Stevenson

Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers by Robert Lewis Stevenson

Illustrations by Norman Wilkinson

Limited Edition, 1910, 11 of 250

Signed “Vellucent” Binding with Mother-of- Pearl Inlay by Cedric Chivers

This is a very rare limited edition of "Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers” published by Florence Press, London for Chatto and Windus, London in 1910 with a limitation of 250 copies with this being number 11. Originally published in 1881, Virginibus Puerisque was Robert Louis Stevenson's earliest volume of collected papers, most having been published originally in British magazines between 1876-79. It contains the following essays: Virginibus Puerisque, Crabbed Age and Youth, An Apology for Idlers, Ordered South, AES Triplex, El Dorado, The English Admirals, Some Portraits by Raeburn, Child's Play, Walking Tours, Pan's Pipes, and A Plea for Gas Lamps. Although mostly known as the creator of Treasure Island and numerous other children’s' adventure stories, these essays - from the heart and soul - concern themselves with Stevenson's philosophical musings on youth, growing, marriage, ageing, friendship and other deeply personal relationships.  

Measuring 10” x 8”, the book is printed on handmade Aldwych handmade paper with the top edges gilt and the others uncut. There are twelve color illustrations by Norman Wilkinson that are each protected by a tissue guard. The book is bound in a “vellucent” signed binding by Cedric Chivers, Bath, England. The art work on the front cover is a magnificent art nouveau design incorporating entwined vines, a mother-of- pearl inlay, and a blue and gold border with a similar design on the spine. The “vellucent” binding extends to the borders of the inside covers. The condition of the book is Near FINE+ with some darkening of the vellum on front gutter and a few areas on the spine. Internally, the book is very clean with a very few random spots of foxing and some sporadic foxing to the tissue guards. There is a neat signature on the first free endpaper “Edmund Page, Dec. 1911” with a small “c” contained within a circle on the lower portion of the page. It might be the signature of the artist who did the artwork for the binding but this is pure speculation.

About Chivers Vellucent Bindings: Around 1903, Cedric Chivers of Bath, England developed a remarkable method of decoration for the binding of books, the transparent vellum or “Vellucent” method. The process involved an artist painting on a super-thin surface medium, and a sheet of vellum, shaved to translucent thinness, was laid over it, with the now indivisible pieces bound over boards. For the first time in the history of the bibliopegistic art, the actual work of the artist, undiluted by a translation through the hands of a binding technician, was involved in the decoration of the book. Using the “vellucent method” it was also possible to incorporate further embellishments such as mother-of-pearl and iridescent shell, and the like, all of which may be covered and permanently protected by the vellum. As The Graphic Arts and Crafts Year Book for 1908 wrote, “It is difficult indeed not to become enthusiastic over the idea of the gorgeous aspect of a wealthy booklover’s library of “Vellucent”-bound books, which may become at the same time a cabinet of works of art, each one of his choice and rare volumes bearing an unique specimen of the book decorator’s skill, and embellished with the most varied and brilliant effects.”

Photographs of the binding, limitation page, Chivers binding stamp, and the first free endpaper appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by clicking the thumbnail.