Cambridge Bookbindings : A Cambridge binding of ca.1636-40, in simply blind-tooled dark brown leather

Isaac Sciadrensis active 17th century

Cambridge Bookbindings

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>Many bindings were made in Cambridge in the 1630s and 40s which were quite unlike the gilded and elaborately decorated ones which we most readily associate with Cambridge work of that time. They are characterised by the use of very dark brown calfskin, simply blind-tooled using only lines (fillets) and small stamps. Many were made, for books of all sizes; we do not have the name of a workshop to associate with them, but it seems that more than one bindery was making them.</p><p>Pasteboards, covered with dark brown calfskin, blind-tooled. Smooth spine, with recessed supports, blind-tooled (with later label added); red and black sprinkled leaf edges; two gilt fillets round the board edges; plain paper flyleaves, with separate plain paper pastedowns.</p><p>Dr David Pearson</p></p>