Nonpareil

This afternoon I came across a wonderful example of fore-edge marbling on a book in my late father-in-law's collection of philosophical works. It must take immense skill to produce marbling on the fore-edge (the side opposite the spine) which doesn't bleed onto the pages. This particular pattern is known as 'nonpareil' (having no equal) which involves two combings one at right angles to the other. The book (which also has marbled end pages and covers) is "Dissertation on the progress in Ethical Philosophy' by James Mackintosh. It was published in 1837.