Cambridge Bookbindings : A gilt-tooled centrepiece binding, ca.1570, using a commonly-seen Cambridge tool

Cambridge Bookbindings

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>The gilt-tooled centrepiece on this binding is one which was extensively used in Cambridge in the 1570s and 80s, and many examples survive. Its design is one which turns up in other binding centres also, but which was particularly popular in Cambridge; there were four oval stamps of closely similar pattern in use here between the late 1560s and late 1580s, suggesting local manufacture by a Cambridge metal engraver. This one, and some of the others, were used in the bindery associated with John Sheres (d.1581), who ran a bookselling as well as a binding business in Cambridge.</p><p>Pasteboards, covered with dark brown calfskin, gilt- and blind-tooled. Spine simply blind-tooled, with a later label added; tawed skin split supports; plain paper flyleaves contained within a fold of medieval manuscript waste, no pastedowns.</p><p>Dr David Pearson</p></p>