First edition of the first American bookbinding manual (Mejer 1950; Appleton 83; Brenni no. 39-for the first edition) in the original binding in near-fine condition. Preface, table of contents, introduction, glossary of technical terms, index. Advertisements of other works by the publisher follow text. Frontispiece. Contains 12 plates of bindings and 7 samples of marbled paper in addition to the illustrations in the text. James B. Nicholson (1820-1901) was born in St. Louis, but he lived most of his life in Philadelphia. He founded the bookbinding firm of Pawson & Nicholson, in Philadelphia, in 1848, and he was well qualified to write a practical manual on the subject of bookbinding. Indeed, this was the first such practical manual written in the United States. The book reproduces the specimens of rolls and hand-stamps produced by the American companies Gaskill, Cooper, and Fry, who produced bookbinding equipment. The section on marbling (pp. 83-103) reprints the entire text of Charles Woolnough's manual of 1853. The marbled specimens were executed by Charles Williams of Philadelphia. Scarce in first edition. Covers lightly rubbed and scuffed at edges. Small stain on rear cover.