Cambridge Bookbindings : A simple blind-tooled binding for the University Library, ca.1666-70

Taylor, Silas 1624-1678

Cambridge Bookbindings

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>An early example of a style which became the default option for straightforward, leather-covered binding work not only in Cambridge, but in English binding more generally, in the later decades of the seventeenth century – an inner fillet frame is drawn a little way in from the perimeter, with a fleuron at the corners. Thousands like this were made in Cambridge between the 1660s and the end of the century, often in a mid-brown lightly sprinkled calfskin. This one was part of a consignment of books received by the University Library in 1666, and sent to Samuel Dawson (who is otherwise little recorded) for binding.</p><p>Pasteboards, covered with mid-brown calfskin, blind-tooled. Simply blind-tooled spine, with later labelling; narrow gilt roll round board edges; red sprinkled leaf edges; plain paper flyleaves and stubs, separate plain paper pastedowns.</p><p>Dr David Pearson</p></p>