John Leighton was the most prolific book designer of the nineteenth century. His imaginative vignettes are often quite detailed, demonstrating a keen awareness of layout within a small space. Leighton also incorporated lettering in playful ways, and frequently hid his initials in the designs of his bindings.
The two editions of Rustic adornments for homes of taste use different central stamps. The 1856 edition shows a fountain gushing up from a bowl of fish. The 1857 edition (see here) shows a fountain surrounded by trees, statuary, and birds.