Cambridge Bookbindings : A mid-eighteenth-century simple leather binding for the University Library

Calvin, Jean 1509-1564

Cambridge Bookbindings

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>As well as commissioning a lot of rebinding of older books, during the eighteenth century, in half-leather bindings (see <a href='/view/PR-C-00004-00025'>C.4.25</a>, <a href='/view/PR-B-AST-00005-00016-D'>B*.5.16(D)</a>), the University Library also had many books rebound like this, in plain, unstamped brown calfskin, with very few added features other than the large gilt-tooled dates on the spines. We do not know who bound them, but they stand out on the shelves for their distinctive spine labelling.</p><p>Pasteboards, covered with mid-brown calfskin, without impressed decoration; the spine has a contemporary gilt-tooled goatskin title label, and the date of publication in large gilt numerals. Red sprinkled leaf edges; conjugate plain paper flyleaves and pastedowns.</p><p>Dr David Pearson</p></p>