A fine example of a Victorian extra decorated binding in black crushed morocco with elaborately gilt-tooling by one of the finest craftsman of the era, Robert Rivière. The front and rear boards display an intricate design of delicate leafy sprays and small floral stamps radiating from a central oval panel, with ornamental cornerpieces featuring scrollwork and oval cartouches. The spine is divided into compartments by raised bands, each panel decorated with a floral tool, with the title De Imitatione Christi lettered in gilt. The board edges are finished with a gilt roll. The doublures are of richly patterned peacock-style marbled paper in deep crimson, blue, and cream, bordered by a gilt-tooled roll of egg-and-dart and rosette motifs — a characteristic hallmark of Rivière's highest order, luxury presentation bindings.

[Robert Riviere - Fine Binding]. a'Kempis, Thomas. De Imitatione Christi. Libri Quatuor. Londini. Macmillan et Soc. 1867. 344p.

An extraordinarily fine example of Rivière's work. Aside from the board and minor losses at rear hinge, in very fine condition. Worthy of conservation. Textually near fine.