Cambridge Bookbindings : A blind-tooled binding for the University Library by Francis Hopkins, ca.1713

Wright, S. (Samuel) 1683-1746

Cambridge Bookbindings

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>The binding style known as “Cambridge panel” began to appear in England in the late 1680s and it became established as the most popular design for straightforward leather-covered work during the first few decades of the eighteenth century. It is characterised by a pattern of concentric panels, sprinkled or stained to different levels of density, to achieve a two- or three-tone effect, as seen here. It was first used in Cambridge around, or shortly after, 1690; although it has been called “Cambridge panel” since the nineteenth century, the name is particularly unfortunate as it did not originate in Cambridge, nor was it especially practised there. Many more such bindings were made in London than in Cambridge. This example was made for the University Library ca.1713 by Francis Hopkins (d.1777), who ran a bookselling as well as a binding business.</p><p>Pasteboards, covered with mid-brown calfskin, sprinkled to create a two-tone panelled effect, blind-tooled. Red spinkled leaf edges; narrow gilt roll round board edges; conjugate plain paper flyleaves and pastedowns.</p><p>Dr David Pearson</p></p>