Publisher’s Device from The Frenchwoman of the Century, Ballantyne, Hanson & Co., 1886, letterpress with engraved emblem, 6×10 in., printer’s mark.

Publisher’s Device fromThe Frenchwoman of the Century, Ballantyne, Hanson & Co., 1886, letterpress with engraved emblem, 6×10 in., printer’s mark.

A rare 1886 publisher’s device leaf from The Frenchwoman of the Century by Octave Uzanne, exemplifying Victorian fine press craftsmanship and limited-edition book arts.

Detailed Description

This original publisher’s device page originates from the landmark 1886 volume The Frenchwoman of the Century: Fashions, Manners, Usages by French critic and bibliophile Octave Uzanne. Printed in London for John C. Nimmo and executed by the esteemed Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. of Edinburgh and London, the page features the firm’s heraldic printer’s emblem, printed via letterpress from an engraved block.

The restrained composition—an emblem suspended within generous margins—reflects late 19th-century British book design, where typography, paper, and printing technique were elevated to objects of lasting beauty. The faint offset text visible through the paper confirms its placement as a separate leaf within the volume, likely functioning as a colophon or terminal publisher’s page.

Printed on rag-based paper, the surface retains the tactile qualities prized by Victorian fine press printers. As the original publication was strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide (300 for England, 200 for America), surviving individual leaves such as this are finite artifacts of the era’s bookmaking culture.

This page stands at the intersection of literary history, fashion scholarship, and graphic design—appealing equally to collectors of rare books, 19th-century prints, and decorative works on paper.

Artist / Printer Biography

Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. was one of the most respected British printing houses of the 19th century, known for high-quality letterpress work, scholarly publications, and deluxe illustrated books. Operating from Edinburgh and London, the firm collaborated with leading publishers and artists of the Victorian era, producing finely printed volumes distinguished by clarity of impression, refined paper selection, and expertly engraved devices and ornaments.

Their work frequently incorporated engraved printer’s marks and coats of arms, functioning both as branding and as symbols of craftsmanship. Ballantyne’s presses were integral to the dissemination of literary, artistic, and academic works across Britain and abroad during the height of Victorian publishing.

Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. (British, 19th c.)
Publisher’s Device fromThe Frenchwoman of the Century, 1886
Letterpress with engraved emblem on rag paper
6 × 10 inches
Printed for John C. Nimmo, London
Limited edition publication (500 copies total)

Certificate of Value & Authentication

This certifies that the accompanying work is an original 1886 publisher’s device leaf from The Frenchwoman of the Century by Octave Uzanne, printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. for John C. Nimmo, London. The piece is guaranteed to be an authentic period example of Victorian letterpress printing, executed on original rag-based paper and originating from a strictly limited edition publication.
Certified by ARTFIND GALLERY, Washington, DC.

Provenance

Ballantyne, Hanson & Co., Edinburgh & London (printer)
John C. Nimmo, London (publisher), 1886
Private European and U.S. collections
Mitch Morse Gallery, New York (acquired in NYC and Europe)
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current owner)