[Fine Binding | C&C McLeish] Songs of Innocence

Blake, William. Songs of Innocence. London: Arthur Humphreys, 1911. Printed in red and black with decorative title page and engravings tipped in. Bound in navy blue crushed morocco by C. & C. McLeish with gilt rules to covers and small floral tool to corners. Seven bands to spine--with head and tail band in the style of the Doves Bindery--with title to the second through fourth compartments and floral tooling to remaining compartments. Gilt ruled turn-ins, top edge gilt. Bookplate of Harrison I. Drummond. Measures approx. 4.5" x 5.75". A few minor spots of rubbing to edges, offsetting to endpapers and foxing to pages.

"Charles McLeish, the elder, was born in 1859. He was apprenticed to Andrew Grieve in Edinburgh before moving to Londone where he worked for Riviere until 1893 when he joined the newly formed Doves Bindery as finisher. He left the Doves Bindery in 1909 to start his own firm at 5 Swallow Street, Piccadilly. ... His son, also Charles, was born in 1886 and apprenticed to Roger de Coverly who grand-daughter he eventually married. Charles junior entered into partnership with his father, his brother Peter and his sister, who did the sewing and book keeping" (Bookbinding in the British Isles, Maggs Bros.).