|
|
Jaarboekje van den Algemeenen Nederlandschen Typografenbond
|
Donation by Dirk Nicolaas Esveld jr.
Acquired 1991
Date 1912
Size 17 x 12 cm.
Signature 1771 G 60
Following his death in 1960, D.N. Esveld was described as 'a binder of the old school' in the magazine Magnus, the publication of the Nederlandsche Bond van Boekbinderspatroons [Dutch Union of Bookbinders Patrons]. The description referred mainly to Esveld's career, which began in 1892 at the age of 15 when he joined the bookbinders firm of Elias P. van Bommel as an apprentice. This company supplied a wide variety of bindings, from bulk orders produced by machines to individually handcrafted book bindings. Ultimately, Esveld would spend over fifty years working for the firm. His appointment as foreman in 1932 formed the crowning achievement in his career. From that moment onward, everyone in the company was obliged to 'follow his directions, unless he or she was instructed otherwise by superior order'.
It is not likely that the very friendly and modest Esveld exercised this authority too often. Instead, he preferred to dedicate himself to the sophisticated binding projects that he was allowed to carry out following his training in the office and the many years of practice at home. Esveld took his home study extremely seriously: 'Every Sunday once again, ever advancing, something new each time'. There at his sitting-room table he honed his technique, experimented with different styles and in so doing created a remarkable collection of book bindings. His son donated fifteen of these bindings to the Koninklijke Bibliotheek in 1991.
The source of inspiration for Esveld's work is unclear. The born and bred citizen of Amsterdam rarely left the city, never travelled abroad and did not participate in discussions with his fellow craftsmen. It is likely that the sample books on hand at the firm had the most influence on him. Between 1890 and 1930, several series of designs for book bindings were produced in order to serve as examples for workshops and binderies, especially in Germany. The absence of copyright at the time meant that anyone could freely imitate the designs or borrow them for inspiration, somewhat similar to the traditional ornament print.
In 1904 the Knapp publishing house in Halle introduced a series of modern designs by the renowned German bookbinder Paul Kersten. Esveld was undoubtedly familiar with this series; plate eightteen features the same design as his binding of the A.N.T.B. yearbook.
(RT)
|
|
|