16th-century calf with cornerpieces & central boss (Nn.6.25)
16th-century calf over wooden boards with brass cornerpieces and central boss. From a copy of Pietro Martire Vermigli's Loci communes (Zurich, 1587) once owned by Hugh Morgan, physician to Elizabeth I.
18th?-century coloured paper binding with floral pattern (G.13.31)
Possibly contemporary binding of coloured paper with a floral design, from a volume containing the five parts of Thomas Crenius' work on the best books, De libris scriptorum optimis et utilissimis exercitatio (1704-1717).
17th-century English (Cambridge) gold-tooled stained buckskin (Qq.11.5)
Gold-tooled buck or deerskin binding with a wheel-shaped central ornament, of a type produced in Cambridge in the mid 17th century. Buckskin was usually whitened by alum-tawing, but this example is stained red. From Joseph Mede's Clauis apocalyptica (Cambridge, 1632).
17th-century English sheepskin binding for John Williams, Bishop of Lincoln (Kk.2.10)
17th-century gold-tooled sheepskin binding for John Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, and later Archbishop of York. This binding is found on several volumes of the works of Richard Fludd, presented to Williams by the author. Sheepskin was a cheap material and degraded easily, notice the tearing and scuffing on the surface here.
17th-century English embroidered binding (Y.a.1617.1(1))
17th-century English embroidered binding with scenes of King David with a harp on the front cover, and Time with a scythe and an hourglass on the rear cover. The spine is decorated florally, and the edges of the textblock are decorated with gilding, gauffering and painting. From Of the imitation of Christ (London, 1617).
17th-century English marbled vellum, with gold-tooling (Oo.8.28)
17th-century English vellum, marbled with green and brown, and tooled in gilt. From a presentation copy of Peter Gunning's The Paschal or Lent-Fast apostolical & perpetual (London, 1662).
17th-century painted and gilt binding (Cambridge) (Bb.6.20)
17th-century English (Cambridge) limp vellum binding with decoration in gilt and hand-colouring (see G.D. Hobson Bindings in Cambridge libraries, p.116). From Gratulatio Academiae Cantabrigiensis de serenissimi principis reditu ex Hispaniis exoptatissimo (Cambridge, 1623).
16th-century printed vellum fragment used as binding (Mm.14.2)
Limp vellum covers consisting of a fragment of a liturgical work printed in red and black. From Luis Mercado's Libellus, de essentia, causis, signis & curatione febris malignae (Basel, 1594).
16th-century vellum wrapper with clasp (Ff.16.10)
16th-century vellum wrapper with a brass clasp. From Paulus Soncinas' abridgment of Capreolus' commentary on Peter Lombard (1522).
From the Library of William Crashaw.
16th-century German blind-stamped pigskin (L.4.8)
16th-century German blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards. The binding is from a multi-volume edition of the works of Luther (1564-70). Although each volume bears a similar binding, this, the first also has the initials M.H.V.K. stamped upon it. The central panels depict Martin Luther on the front cover, and Philip Melanchthon on the rear.