Sketch of the Work of the Catholic Church (presentation book) (1887)

This work was commissioned to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Catholic Church in Wellington and was presented to Pope Leo XIII on the occasion of the golden jubilee on May 15th, 1887. It is a spectacular example of Lyon & Blair's assured handling of ornamented typefaces, borders, and colour. The printed book included tipped-in photographs surrounded by printed borders and was accompanied by an elaborate illuminated address hand-rendered on vellum by William Rose Bock of the Wellington printing firm, Bock & Cousins. The presentation copy with its marquetry board binding resides in the Vatican Library. Lyon & Blair printed several additional copies of the book of which this is one; the photographs and address are unique.