[Fine Binding | Gertrude Stiles] Centuries of Meditations

Traherne, Thomas. Centuries Of Meditations. London: Bertram Dobell, 1908. First edition. Bound in dark navy crushed morocco by Gertrude Stiles (signed "G.E.S." on rear turn-in) with a design in gilt of seven interlocking circles with the outer circles featuring six small gilt roundels with a line of gilt dots extending from each. Gilt fillet and gouged border to covers. Five bands to spine with author to first compartment, title to second compartment. Gilt ruled turn-ins with white endpapers. All edges gilt. Measures 5.25" x 7.25". Some rubbing to edge and spine bands, corners bumped. Small (1/2") closed cracks to the top of the front and rear hinges.

Gertrude Stiles worked with the Guild of Women Binders in 1902, and took lessons from Sangorski & Sutcliffe. She held an exhibit of her bindings in Chicago in 1905, and was the subject of an article written by Mabel McIlvaine entitled "The Cobden-Sanderson School of Bookbinding and Miss Gertrude Stiles" (1904).

"Thomas Traherne (1637-74) was born near, and educated in Hereford, and then at Brasenose College in Oxford. In 1660 he was ordained Priest and, in 1661, appointed to the parish of Credenhill, near Hereford. In 1669 he moved to Teddington to take up the position of Chaplain to Sir Orlando Bridgeman, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. There, or in London, while still nominally Rector of Credenhill, he remained until he died. Traherne published only one work during his lifetime and signed none of his manuscripts. But for a chance purchase of unattributed papers in 1896 and much literary research, the authorship and significance of The Centuries of Meditation might have remained unknown. They were first published in 1908 with the original dedication, believed to be to Susanna Hopton" (Belmont Hill Press).