Here is another Grolier Club publication, and a most appropriate one at that. It is The Library of Jean Grolier, by Gabriel Austin. Grolier was a book collector who specialized in fine bindings for his collection. He was a patron of various artists and binders of the era. His collection was dispersed in 1675, but several hundred of his bindings survive to this day. It was after him, naturally, that the Grolier Club was named. Austin's catalogue of Grolier's collection was published by the Club in 1971. Item 27. €150 (US $182).

Knuf describes item 87 as "the definitive book on binding tools." The title is Bookbinders' Finishing Tool Makers 1780-1965. It includes biographies of hundreds of toolcutters and their firms, with illustrations of their trademarks and the period in which they were active. Along with providing much information on binding tools, the dating enables the reader to identify the times they were used, and thereby the dates of numerous bindings. €57 (US $70).

Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books may be found online at www.fritsknuf.com or reached by phone at +33 (0) 254 722 656.