Old Stamps On Ebay

[Phatdaddy]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Lot-6-Decorative-Antique-Leather-Stamp-Tools-Various-Sizes-and-Designs-/310346912693?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item48421e13b5

[WyomingSlick]

Look to be very corroded anyway. Wonder what original purpose was. Anybody able to identify these?

[WinterBear]

The one third from the right looks something like what was labeled as a bookbinder's tool in a museum I've been to. It was apparently used to add decoration in gold foil along the spine and on the covers. According to the label I saw, the tool was heated and used to sort of press/quasi-burn/stamp/bind the foil to the leather--with some sort of glue.

[celticleather]

The one third from the right looks something like what was labeled as a bookbinder's tool in a museum I've been to. It was apparently used to add decoration in gold foil along the spine and on the covers. According to the label I saw, the tool was heated and used to sort of press/quasi-burn/stamp/bind the foil to the leather--with some sort of glue.

This is exactly right. They are bookbinder's decorative tools, which would have been fitted into a wooden (or sometimes asbestos) handle. The glue that was used to make the foil adhere to the leather is called 'glaire', and is made from stale egg-white - very smelly!

[WinterBear]

This is exactly right. They are bookbinder's decorative tools, which would have been fitted into a wooden (or sometimes asbestos) handle. The glue that was used to make the foil adhere to the leather is called 'glaire', and is made from stale egg-white - very smelly!

Nice to know I remembered rightly. The glue sounds disgusting though.