Sophie Schneiderman Rare Books latest catalogue is Catalogue 31 On the Distaff Side – Women Makers from 1897 to the Present Day. It contains 104 items and encompasses, bookbinders, calligraphers, illuminators & miniaturists, artists & illustrators, amateur makers, book artists & fine presswomen, designers, paper-makers, stonemasons, writers and pioneers.

A binding by Lucette Lévy which in the eyes of the cataloguer gives a nod to the style of the bindings of Génevieve de Léotard who, it is suggested, may well have been her teacher, Georges Duhamel’s Confession de Minuit, valued at £2,700. It is inscribed by the author to the bookbinder as Mme Henri Levy “ami de mes livres, et donc mon amie” on 18th November, presumably in the year of publication. This inscription gives a few clues as to the identity of the binder. Her connection to Georges Duhamel implies that Lucette Lévy moved in literary circles and through her husband Henri was very likely to have been connected to the family of Gaston Lévy, the collector and patron of binders and director of the Calmann- Lévy publishing house.

The Ladies’ Pocket Book of Etiquette by A. F. which was originally published in 1838 and then by Golden Cockerel Press in 1928. This work contains four copper engravings by Hester Sainsbury – this is number 480 of 500 copies. The book covers introductions, salutations, dress, fashion, visitors and visiting, gossiping, tattling, dancing, marriages and servants. On printed patterned paper covered boards with a pink silk marker the Etiquette book is priced at £180.

A cheerful alphabet book with each copy being unique with different words and colours applied by Julia Paschkis onto the printed versions of her pen and ink drawings and bound by Claudia Cohen. Alphababble. A folly of Words and Pictures, number 17 of 24 copies is signed by the artist and binder. This book is for sale at £4,000.

Something not often seen in catalogues are paper-makers. Here Victoria hall is highlighted. She is a highly regarded paper marbler and past paper maker based in Norfolk, establishing her first studio in 1989. She undertakes oil and acrylic marbling as well as being an expert in the art of Suminagashi. Each unique design is exclusive from an archive of floral designs. The ten original marbled flower motif papers made by floating and manipulating gouache paint upon carragheen (processed seaweed). The entire image is created on a liquid surface before being captured on a sheet of paper. These are available at £1,200.