Description1 vol. (unpaginated) ; ill. From introduction: "The numerous gaps in the history of bookbinding in the 17th century are discouraging to researchers. The vogue for dotted decoration (décoration pointillée) endured through the end of the century; inaugurated by Macé Ruette, the style endured until the first quarter of the 18th century due to Antoine-Michel Padeloup. For this decoration, the gilders used standard hand tools generally executed by one engraver, and consequently, it not very suitable to determine from which workshop they came from." A study of the hand tools used in 17th and 18th century French bindings and the binderies to which they can be traced.