The Bliss binders: Bohn

John Bohn was born in Germany in 1757, came to England in 1790, and started up on his own in London in 1795. He bound until 1815 and then took to bookselling. He died in 1845. His son was the famous mid-nineteenth-century publisher H.G. Bohn. He completed eight bindings for Mrs. Bliss.

Beaumont’s (Albanis) Travels through the Rhetian Alps in 1786, from Italy to Germany through Tyrol, map and coloured plates, green morocco, gilt leaves, by Bohn  1792
1826 sale, lot 94

A Collection of Flowers, drawn, after Nature, and disposed of in an ornamental and picturesque manner, 64 coloured plates, calf extra, marble leaves by Bohn 1793
1826 sale, lot 158

Costume of Great Britain, 60 coloured plates with descriptions, by W. H. Pyne; Costume of the Russian Army, 9 coloured plates, and 5 coloured plates; Costume of China, with descriptions in Fr. and Eng., in 1 vol, red morocco, gilt leaves, by Bohn
1826 sale, lot 135

EDWARDS’S (GEO.) NATURAL HISTORY of Birds, and Gleanings in Natural History, Fr. and Eng., 7 vols, AN ORIGINAL COPY, the plates beautifully coloured, russia, marble leaves, by Bohn  1748-1806
1826 sale, lot 216

Italian Scenery; representing the Manners, Customs, and Amusements of the different States of Italy, 32 coloured engravings by Godby, from Drawings by Lerberghi, red morocco, gilt leaves, by Bohn  1806
1826 sale, lot 250

Landi’s (G.) Architectural Decorations of original designs invented from the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, &c. for exterior and interior Decoration of Galleries, Halls, Apartments, &c. coloured plates, blue morocco, gilt leaves, by Bohn  1810
1826 sale, lot 285

SOLVYNS (F. B.) HINDOUS, ou Description de leurs Mœurs, Coutumes et Ceremonies, 4 vols, a multitude of coloured engravings, with descriptions in Fr. and Eng. red morocco, elegant, broad gold border, joints, gilt leaves, by Bohn  Paris 1808
1826 sale, lot 345

Thomson’s (Jas.) Seasons, illustrated with engravings by Bartolozzi and Tomkins, from pictures by Hamilton, finely coloured, red morocco, elegant, gilt leaves, by Bohn  Bensley 1807
1826 sale, lot 442

References

Ellic Howe.—A list of London bookbinders, 1648-1815.—London : Bibliographical Society, 1950.

Howard M. Nixon & Mirjam M. Foot.—The history of decorated bookbinding in England.—Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1992.

Charles Ramsden.—London bookbinders, 1780-1840.—London : Batsford, 1956.