Early 16th-century Italian gold-tooled calfskin, with knotwork design & gauffering (Ii.1.26)
A northern Italian gold-tooled calfskin binding of c.1525-35, with differing central decoration in knotwork on each cover, and gauffering on the edges of the textblock (above). Knotwork decoration was a typical feature of Mudejar bindings produced by Moors still resident in Spain after the Reconquista, but also appears, as here, on Italian bindings of the period, where it may also indicate an Islamic influence.
17th-century Cambridge blind-tooled calf (Tt.1.16)
This binding, from the first published concordance to the Bible in Hebrew (Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1523-4), is typical of many to be found in St John's College Library. It is one of several such bindings produced by Philip Scarlet and Henry Moody in 1627/8, as recorded in the College accounts:
16th-century Salamanca blind-stamped calf (O.2.16)
16th-century Spanish blind-stamped binding over wooden boards produced in Salamanca. From a volume containing Pedro de Ledesma's Tractatus de magno matrimonii sacramento (Salamanca, 1599). The second image shows the decorated fore-edge incorporating the author's name and title.
16th-century German or Danish blind-stamped calf binding (T.3.16)
16th-century German or Danish blind-stamped calf over wooden boards for the first Bible in Icelandic (1584). The central panels (details below) depict four virtues each: on the front - Justice, Prudence, Fortitude and Temperance, with the black-inked initials I.D. just above; on the back - Faith, Hope, Charity and Patience.
16th-century English panel-stamped binding (Uu.10.17)
16th-century English panel-stamped calf (for panels see Oldham's Blind panels of English binders, plate 31, nos HM.25 and HM.26). From Johann Aepinus' Commentarius in Psalmum XIX (1545).
16th-century London blind-stamped calf by John Reynes (A.4.25)
16th-century English (London) blind-stamped binding, with a roll containing eagles, hounds and the initials J.R., i.e. John Reynes (for rolls see Oldham's English blind-stamped bindings, plate 37, no. 553, AN.b1). The volume also boasts four brass bosses at the corners of the central panel, and book-clasps.
16th-century English panel-stamped binding (Pp.11.12)
16th-century English panel-stamped calf with panels bearing heads in medallions and the initials of an unidentified binder, T.P. (Oldham, 'Blind panels of English binders', HM.7 & HM.8). From Theophylactus' In quatuor Evangelia ennarrationes (1531).
16th-century English panel-stamped binding (John Reynes?) (Uu.8.2)
16th-century English panel-stamped calf (for panels see Oldham's Blind panels of English binders, plate 21, HE.26, and plate 41, RO.21). From Haymo of Halberstadt's Commentarii in Apocalypsim beati Johannis (1529).
16th-century English panel-stamped binding (Uu.8.1)
16th-century English panel-stamped calf (for panels see Oldham's Blind panels of English binders, plate 61, TRIP.9). From Haymo of Halberstadt's In divi Pauli epistolas omneis interpretatio (1529). This is a triple panel depicting, from left to right, the Annunciation, two fighting characters and the Virgin of the Apocalypse.
16th-century English panel-stamped binding (Ee.13.36)
16th-century English English panel-stamped calf bearing a panel with the Baptism of Christ on the front, and a panel with St George and the Dragon on the rear (Oldham, 'Blind panels of English binders', BIB.17 & ST.9). Also incorporated into the rear panel are the initials I.R., standing for the binder, John Reynes who operated in London. The Library has several other volumes with designs incorporating his initials.