The bookbinder, wearing an apron and a crown hat, sews a book on a sewing frame. His glue bucket is in front of him and his paper cutter behind him. In the background, a woman uses a roll on a book., Text: My life's a waste, I'm sick of paste; And printers, books and presses / Might quickly go to Jericho, Should Fortune smile, and bless us!.. / -- Yes, but who's the fool that would be thy Valentine?, Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The woman bookworker holds a bone folder, a polished bone tool for creasing paper. A stack of papers lies near her hand, and a press is visible in the background. A cover sheet is on the table that reads " Elton's Alnanac [i.e., Almanac]." In the text, "calf" refers to a calf-skin binding., Text: No paper token, "lovely dear," / Could please you half so well, / As the signatures and folios / Of some young and brainless swell,-- / And if the wish'd for hour shall come, / I venture to opine, / You'll have a work full bound in calf, / For your dear Valentine., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
