A history of the art of bookbinding : with some account of the books of the ancients / edited by W. Salt Brassington.

Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A history of the art of bookbinding : with some account of the books of the ancients / edited by W. Salt Brassington. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    binder at home, and may also have sent some of his books to be bound elsewhere, since in his will, dated June 5th, 1534, and proved on January 19th, 1535, he leaves to “ Nowel, the bookbinder, in Shoe Lane (Fleet Street), xx. s. in books ; and to Alard, bookbinder, my servant, vj. 1. xiv. s. iiij.d.”1 Several of Wynkyn de Worde’s bindings have been identified. In the library of Worcester Cathedral may be seen a fine copy of “John Capgravius : Nova Legenda Anglie.” “ In domo Winandi de Worde” (folio, London, 1516) (x. B. 9). This book is in its original binding, which, however, has been rebacked. A frame of rolled borders richly ornamented with fabulous beasts and conventional flowers encloses an oblong panel divided by diagonal lines into lozenge-shaped compartments, each of which is adorned with a lace-like stamp. Around the outer border stamps consisting of similar ornaments divided in half are arranged. It is probable that this book has been in the library for upwards of three and a half centuries, and it is possible that it was purchased by the Prior of Worcester direct from the printer. Prior William Moore, who always added a few books to the monastic library when he took his periodical journey to London, has left this record in a list of books supplied to him in the year 1518-19:— “ Legenda s’tor’ in Englisshe, vj. s.” 2 Although the ornaments of this binding are Netherlandish in character, they are in all likelihood of English workmanship done by the foreigners in De Worde’s employ. On some of his early bindings a small stamp of the royal arms appears. In the flyleaves of one or two panel-stamped bindings, fragments of pages printed by Wynkyn de Worde have been found, but these do not supply sufficient evidence to identify the binding as his. It seems probable that he employed French or Netherlandish binders, who used their own stamps. De Worde also made use of Caxton’s bookbinding tools till the beginning of the sixteenth century, when they seem to have fallen into other hands. In his will, which we have before mentioned, we find the name of J. Gaver, who was probably one of the large family of Gavere, bookbinders in the Low Countries.3 It is probable that some bindings bearing the initials I. G. are the work of this man. (c. 1480.) John Lettou and William de Machlinia also were bookbinders as well as printers ; but only two bindings can at present be assigned to them,4 and these do not present any new characteristics. Lettou and Machlinia were the first printers who settled in London ; they lived first in Holborn, near the Fleet Bridge, afterwards by All Saints’ Church ; they appear to have been in London in the year 1480, and to have continued residing there for a few years. They were Germans, there is little doubt; and William came from the city of Mechlin, whence his name. John Lettou is said at first to have assisted Machlinia, but afterwards he became his partner. 1 Ames’ “ Typographical Antiquities,” i. 120. 2 Mr. J. Noake, “The Monastery and Cathedral of Worcester,” p. 415. 3 Mr. E. Gordon Duff, “ Burlington Fine Art Club Catalogue.” 4 Ibid.