The decorated spines of the first and third editions of Babbage

The decorated spines of the first and third editions of Babbage's book, both of which were issued in 1832. The spine of the first edition (left) is one of the earliest edition bindings in which the gilt decoration was stamped directly into the cloth. The price of 6 shillings stamped into the spines under the title was a Charles Knight innovation; this was probably the first time it was done. Like the bindings on John Murray's edition of Byron, these bindings, with relatively small stamping on the spines were probably among the first bindings produced with the newly invented Imperial Arming Press. Within a short time binders increased the sizes of the stamping, covering more the spines and also stamping on the upper and lower covers.

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