. Historic bindings in the Bodleian Library, Oxford : with reproductions of twenty-four of the finest bindings. f gilding leather was practised in this country at an early datemay also be taken for granted ; but the gold leaf was applied bymeans of mucilage, and not by the mere pressure of heated tools. Thomas Berthelet seems to have been the first bookbinder ofconsequence who introduced gold-tooling into England. Bertheletsperiod extends from about 1530 (in June of that year he publishedcertain proclamations) to 1555, when, according to the books ofthe Stationers Company, he died. From the pa
. Historic bindings in the Bodleian Library, Oxford : with reproductions of twenty-four of the finest bindings. f gilding leather was practised in this country at an early datemay also be taken for granted ; but the gold leaf was applied bymeans of mucilage, and not by the mere pressure of heated tools. Thomas Berthelet seems to have been the first bookbinder ofconsequence who introduced gold-tooling into England. Bertheletsperiod extends from about 1530 (in June of that year he publishedcertain proclamations) to 1555, when, according to the books ofthe Stationers Company, he died. From the patent, still extant, itappears that Berthelet was the second man who held the office ofKings Printer in England, and it is certain that he bound andadorned books for the Kings Library. There is extant an accountof certain books bound by him in the Venetian manner for theking, and in a case devoted to bookbindings at the British Museumone of Berthelets bindings may be seen to this day. Without doubt, the volume we are now considering, formedpart of the royal collection. Its presence in the Bodleian is easily. VITAE ILLUSTRIUM VIRORUM. In brown leather, gilt, with royal arms and titdor rose. Plate VIII. PLATE VIII. 17 accounted for. In August, 1605, James I. visited Oxford and theBodleian. Moved to a wonderful temper of liberality, the kingthen offered to present from all the libraries of the royal palaces,whatsoever precious and rare books Sir T. Bodley, on examination,might choose to carry away; and promised that a grant should bemade under seal lest any hindrance should arise.* This grant waspassed under the Privy Seal in November of the same year, andBodley appears to have carried off several valuable MSS. fromWhitehall, among others some ancient folios, of which this is one,and some volumes belonging to James himself. In the present imperfect state of knowledge respecting the earlyTudor bookbinders, it would be dangerous to affirm that this volumewas bound by Berthelet for Ki
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidhi, booksubjectbookbinding
