The bookbinders deflinne

Under some samples of products inspired by Martine's adventures, the old wooden cupboard displays some very beautiful gilding irons from the four generations of bookbinders in Tournai, the Deflinnes, including Barthélemy-Léopold (1791-1846). He was appointed bookbinder to Willem I, King of the Netherlands. He could therefore call his workshop: the Royal Bookbinding Manufactory. In the open drawer are juxtaposed the printing plate and the paper edition of “Les Tournaisiens sont là”, the local anthem, by Adolphe Delmée, as well as a broadside and a composing stick, the metal tray with the lead characters.