Armorial bindings; Bookplates, English; Heraldry -- Great Britain
_Device._--A Tudor Rose arg. and gu., seeded or and leaved vert, within
a ribbon bearing the legend HEC ROSA VIRTUTIS DE CELO MISSA SERENO
ETERNŪ FLORENS REGIA SCEPTRA FERET.
_Supporters._--Two kneeling angels.
_Badges._--In the dexter corner a sun in glory and the shield of St.
George, arg., a cross gu.
In the sinister corner a half-moon with face, and the shield of the
City of London, arg., a cross gu.; in the first quarter a sword in pale
of the last, point upwards. In the sky stars.
_Initials._--I.N., _i.e._ Ihon Norins, with his trade device.
[CICERO. _Commentarii questionum Tusculanarum._ Parhisii,
1509.]
This stamp is generally found in combination with one or other
of the armorial stamps which I have figured and placed under
the heading of Henry VIII. No doubt there was some authority
given to use these Royal emblems, and although so far no
reliable account of such authority is forthcoming, it is likely
enough that members of the Stationers' Company may have been
granted the privilege. On all these bindings the coat-of-arms
of the City of London appears. On many of them are also
initials which are very often those of well-known contemporary
printers and binders. The original stamps were cut in latten, a
form of brass--copper and zinc--and impressed on the leather in
blind, that is without gold, the design showing in low relief.
The latten plates were probably attached to wooden blocks by
means of two or more metal pins, and in many instances, by
reason of irregular pressure, these pins, the tops of which
were engraved in continuation of the general design, have
been forced a little out of their normal level. The result is
that they show very clearly as indented marks. The pressure
necessary to make a good impression from one of these large
stamps is considerable; it may have been done by a slow
constant pressure or by quick pressure from hammer strokes, and
the leather was in any case softened by water. Bindings with
these stamps upon them were either of calf or sheep-skin.
[Illustration]
USHER, JAMES, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH
_Arms._--Impaled.
Dexter: Az., an archiepiscopal staff, headed with a cross
pattée or, over all a pall arg., charged with 3 crosses
pattée fitchée sa. _See of Armagh._
Sinister: Az., a chevron erm., between 3 batons or. _Usher._
[USHER. _Britannicae Ecclesiae Antiquitates._ Dublin, 1639.]
James Usher (born 4th January 1580, died 21st March 1656) was
the son of Arnold Usher, Clerk of the Irish Court of Chancery.
He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and in 1601 he took
orders, and became a preacher of much note. In 1620 Dr. Usher
was made Bishop of Meath and Clonmacnoise, and in 1624 he was
consecrated Archbishop of Armagh.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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