Gilder's burnisher, used by Thomas Nelson, Edinburgh

A gilder's burnisher was used by a bookbinder to gild the edges of pages in books. This example was used by the book production company, Thomas Nelson of Edinburgh.

The burnisher consists of a tubular brass head into which is inserted a rounded piece of agate. The agate is bent at almost 90 degrees in the middle and has a pointed tip. The handle is made of wood.

By 1878, the company of Thomas Nelson employed 600 people in Edinburgh and London. Thomas Nelson himself invented a rotary press which was shown at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-100-003-103-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.QC 24
Date:	19th century
Material:	Brass; wood, mid brown; agate, grey-brown
Dimensions:	68 mm H x 390 mm L x 35 mm Dia
What:	Burnisher, gilder's
Subject:
Who:	E. Sandilands (Owner) Thomas Nelson, Edinburgh (Owner)
Where:
Event:
Description:	Gilder's burnisher with a tubular brass head and handle of mid brown wood, used by the donor for gilding the edges of pages of books when employed as a bookbinder at Thomas Nelson of Edinburgh
References:	Keay, J. & J. (eds). Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London: HarperCollins, 1994, p 733.
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