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Why were Jean Grolier’s bookbindings famous among collectors?

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Jean Grolier de Servières, vicomte d’Aguisy, is celebrated in the history of book collecting for his influential patronage and the exceptional quality of his library, which contained approximately 3,000 volumes.12

His bindings are famous among collectors for several key reasons:

Artistic Craftsmanship: Grolier’s books were richly bound in morocco or calf and decorated with intricate, sumptuous designs in gold and colors. His patronage helped elevate the French bookbinding trade to a level of prestige equal to that of the renowned Italian tradition.12
Distinctive Markings: Each volume was uniquely marked with two Latin phrases that have become iconic in the bibliophilic world. The upper cover bore the inscription "Io. Grolierii et amicorum" ("For use by Jean Grolier and his friends"), reflecting his generous spirit, while the lower cover featured the phrase "Portia mea, Domine, sit in terra viventium" ("O Lord, may my portion be in the land of the living").12
Historical Significance: As a patron of Aldus Manutius, Grolier was central to the early development of contemporary book collecting.12