Cambridge Bookbindings : A more elaborate gilt-tooled presentation binding, ca.1617

Collins, Samuel 1576-1651

Cambridge Bookbindings

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>Presentation copies of books published in Cambridge in the handpress period will often be found in locally-made bindings, more or less elaborately decorated to suit the status of the recipient. More money was spent on making this one, than the other University Library copy of the same book also illustrated here (url/link); the titlepage has the inscription of Sir James Balfour (ca.1600-57), dated 1639, but we do not know whether he was the first owner. This binding incorporates one of the most distinctive Cambridge binding tools of this period, a flying pheasant, which was much used on bindings of ca.1610-35, sometimes blind-tooled on much simpler ones than this. Several other Cambridge tools of this time were modelled on birds or animals, but this is the one most commonly encountered.</p><p>Pasteboards, covered with dark brown calfskin, gilt-, blind- and silver-tooled (the silver now oxidised). Smooth spine, with recessed supports, gilt-tooled; red sprinkled leaf edges; remains of green cloth ties; plain paper pastedowns and flyleaves.</p><p>Dr David Pearson</p></p>