This Edinburgh bookbinders receipt, part-printed and completed in ms, acknowledges payment for binding five works including Racine in half-French calf, Fables de la Fontaine and Public General Statutes for £1 7s 9d and lettering the contents.
A single sheet, lined blue-tinted paper-stock, engraved royal crest, decorative italic, shadow and gothic title fonts, folded for sending.
James Henderson & William Bisset & Co., Edinburgh, were Bookbinders to Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
Initially, James Henderson, bookbinder, conducted business at 25 James Square, in 1824, at 4 West Register Street and in Craig's Close, 1825. The firm of Henderson, Bisset & Co., were located at 12 West Market Street in 1826, and in Mound Place from 1827 to 1829. then, Henderson & Bisset, was located at East Mound Place, in 1830, at 21 George Street, 1831-36, and then at 19 Hill Street, 1837. While Bookbinders to Her Majesty they conducted business at the same address, 1838-92, and then at 51 North Hanover Street, from 1893 until the 20th Century.
Henderson was said to have been a pupil of Charles Lewis (1786–1836), a prominent English bookbinder.
The National Library of Scotland has a specimen book of their binding tools 1860.
Open to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance of visit.
Acquired from Alastor Rare Books, Lymington, June 2015. Accession no: E2015.48.
Catalogued by Graeme D. Eddie 12 June 2015
