illuminated binding
A binding which has extra colors in its scheme of
decoration, and especially a binding in which a
design was first blocked in blind and afterwards
colored. Originally a French innovation, this
style was used in England from about 1830 to 1860.
Burnt sienna, carmine, gamboge, indigo, sap green
and ultramarine were the colors most often used
mainly because they were more lightfast. The color
was mixed with a suitable gum and applied to the
cover; when it was dry, gold leaf was laid on the
areas to be gilded, and the entire design was then
impressed with the heated block, which fixed both
gold and colors, sharpening the edge of the
latter. (152 , 156 , 236 , 365 )