The elaborate decoration of the binding shown above has not been accomplished by the application of many small individual tools, but rather has been accomplished by the use of a single large plate or 'plaque'. Gold tooling by plaque is thought to be the invention of Pierre-Paul Dubuisson and his father, Rene, who specialized in the binding of almanacs.
This example is found on Plate 38 of the 1910 Paris publication entitled LIVRES DANS DE RICHES RELIURES by Édouard Rahir.
Below is a British Library example, it is shown a bit larger than actual size (see 0 - 10 cm scale).
Contes mis en vers par un petit-cousin de Rabelais, Paris, 1775
Shelfmark c154e8 , British Library Database of Bookbindings
Below is an example found in the 2eme Partie: Reliures de quelques ateliers du XVII Siècle & Livres en divers genres du XVIIe et XVIIIe Siècles, this is the second volume of Raphaël Esmerian's, 6 volume work entitled, Bibliotheque Raphael Esmerian
published in French by Georges Blaizon, Paris 1972-1974. It is Catalogue item #112, page 142. Esmerian notes this binding as being decorated with a Dubuisson plaque (Rahir 184 i) however it is said to have been executed in the 'Atelier de Vente'.
La Reine de Golconde, 1782.
aux armes de Louis XVI
Pierre-Paul Dubuisson (fl 1746-1762) -
Plaque Rahir 184 i
