[A Mosaic Binding by Curtis Walters] In Quest of the Perfect Book

Orcutt, William Dana. In Quest of the Perfect Book: Reminiscences & Reflections of a Bookman. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1926. Color frontispiece illustration with tissue guard (Queen Mary's Psalter); profusely illustrated in black & white. A presentation copy from Orcutt. Bound by Curtis Walters in a superlative mosaic binding. On a background of dark red crushed morocco, the front and back covers are filled by a design of inlaid intersecting circles and ovals, done in inlays of navy blue, dark blue, light blue, light brown, and orange. The pattern shifts slightly from the border to the center of the boards by the use of two gilt-ruled rectangles. The covers each use approximately 662 inlays, providing a simply remarkable effect to this binding. Six compartments to spine, four of which feature a similar inlaid design, and title and author in second and fourth compartments. Top edge gilt. Blue morocco doublures with inlaid maroon border. "Bound by C. Walters" stamp at the