BINDING - NEWCASTLE


[BRUCE (JOHN COLLINGWOOD, editor)] Lapidarium Septentrionale: Or, a Description of the Monuments of Roman Rule in the North of England. Published by The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, FIRST EDITION, 15 plates and maps (one large folding in pocket at end as issued, several chromolithographed), numerous illustrations in the text, additional hand-coloured diagram of "A Pier of Tyne Bridge" pasted onto the front free endpaper, 4-page manuscript note by Collingwood Bruce loosely inserted, contemporary binding made of carved wooden sides (see footnote), the upper cover with the figure of a standing Britannia with a border of flowers and ornamental decorations, 3 Roman coins (Hadrian; Sabina; Faustina) mounted in 3 corners (one missing), lower cover with ornamental border, and one Roman coin (of 4) in corner, morocco spine elaborately tooled in gilt, brown morocco gilt paste-downs and endpapers, g.e., one (of 2) silver clasp (Birmingham, 1877 mark, loose), preserved in original felt-lined box, folio (365 x 230mm.), Bernard Quaritch, 1875
|REMARKABLE BINDING "FORMED OF WOOD USED IN THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE ROMAN BRIDGE BUILT OVER THE TYNE AT NEWCASTLE... BY THE EMPEROR HADRIAN A.D.120", made at Alnwick Castle.John Collingwood Bruce (1805–1892), noted Newcastle antiquary and editor of Lapidarium Septentrionale, was responsible for the binding of this copy. In the accompanying note (dated 19 March 1878), he explains that he was present when the last portions of the "third pier from the southern extremity" of the "modern bridge" (1775) built over the original Roman bridge was removed, after which "I bought away with me a log of the Roman oak. The carving on the backs is from designs prepared by Mr. Brown of the Carving Studio, Alnwick Castle... the coins at the corners of the boards are genuine second brass Roman coins...". The Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums house a number of other items made from the 'Roman' bridge at Bruce's instigation, including a large bookcase, chairs and a few other books including a copy of The Roman Wall.