Small quarto. 96pp. Matthews' text is transcribed from a lecture given at the Grolier Club on March 25, 1885, in which Matthews outlines the history of decorative and luxury bindings according to both their aesthetic merits and the practicalities of their creation. Matthews' analysis certainly reflects its historical moment, when on both sides of the Atlantic bookbinding had resurfaced as an artistic craft. The present copy is a paramount example of the trend; unusual in its departure from the ready appeal of symmetry, the volume's unique binding demonstrates four distinct styles on its four panels. Bound in boards covered in blue morocco, the front panel has an outer double-rule border, within which is another eight-rule border, then Grecian urns of red onlays at each corner heightened in gilt and with gilt vines, with further vines in an Arabseque shape surrounding an eight-pointed flower with leather onlay border. Inside front cover with layers of floral rolls, with vines at corners from bouquets tied in gilt bows, onlays of white morocco and at center the crest of the Grolier Club in gilt against blue. Interior of rear board nearly matching, using the same arrangement of white onlays, but here with resplendent, rococo rolls and tooling, including considerable pointille. Rear panel adopts a more geometric and minimalist design, showcasing the precision of the finisher by adopting a series of interlocking continuous rules echoing that found in Matthews' example of an Aldine design (see plate at p. 68/69). Spine in six compartments, two with gilt titling and the other four mirroring the four cover panels, respectively. A. J. Cox operated A. J. Cox & Company and its Steam Book Manufacturing corporation, which in the latter half of the 19th century among the most prolific bookbinding firms in Chicago. Much of the firm's work consisted of trade bindings, reporting that between October 1, 1875 and September 30, 1876 it completed 228,880 bindings on books and another 200,000 on pamphlets. The firm also had a Job Department, in which it crafted the sorts of bespoke bindings Matthews describes and as demonstrated tangibly by the present volume. A. C. McClurg was a wholesaler and bookseller of the same era, likewise in Chicago. Among his other achievements, he was responsible for the revitalization of The Dial in 1880, when it mainly functioned as a political and literary review before being assimilated into the modernist "little magazine" arena. Joints lightly rubbed, else fine. T.e.g.