An Essay in the History of Gold-Tooled
Bindings by Herbert P. Horne
London 1894
the Register of the Stationers' Company, about January, 1556; and there are bindings executed
for Queen Mary, which have all the characteristics of the earlier bindings attributed to this
stationer. Of these, the most important is a copy of Bonner's Profitable and necessalye Docrille,
London, 1555, from the Old Royal Library; upon the boards of which the arms of England are
tooled within a flamed circle; while the enriched fillet forming the panel, is of a Venetian pattern,
which in several instances occurs upon these bindings [C. 27. e. 13.]. Another and simpler
example covers the manuscript of a poem, of Controversy against the Reformers, addressed by
the author, Myles Huggard, to the queen. The arms of England again occur within a flamed circle;
with the initials M.R. repeated at the points of a square, about the same: while a single
border-line in gold, with fleurons at the angles, complete the decoration of this binding [Harl. MS.
3444-]. A third binding, executed for Queen Mary, covers a book of Hours in illuminated
manuscript; the gilding of which is executed with finer tools, and is worked with greater care,
than is usual upon these bindings by Berthelet; while the enriched border-fillet, which surrounds
the arms and initial of the queen on each cover, is less Italianate in character [Sloane MS. 2565.].
These gold-tooled bindings, which, in the absence of any precise information as to the gilder, or
gilders, who finished them, have come to be attributed to Thomas Berthelet, possess certain
characteristics in common. Unlike the Elizabethan bindings, which followed them, they are
imitated wholly from the work of Italian gilders; the tools being solid, and generally cut after
Venetian patterns. When the device of the interlaced fillet is employed, it occurs with very little
elaboration; the simple form of the oblong interlaced with the lozenge, being ordinarily used:
while the flamed circle commonly occurs as a centre piece on the covers; and blind lines usually
accompany the gilt work of the border-fillets. With one exception, the examples, which I have
described, are bound in brown leather, which is probably either calf, or deerskin: and their
gilding is more heavily worked, than that of the fine Italian bindings, contemporaneous with
them. In common with a great number of English bindings, their historical interest exceeds their
artistic value: but they are superior, for the most part, to the gold-tooled bindings, which
followed them; for they were imitated from better models.
Another example of the influence of Venetian design on English bookbinding at this time, may be
seen on a little volume, Basz'Hz' Magnz' et Gregori:' Nazz'anzeni Epistolae Graecae, Hagenau,
1528, bound for William Cecil, afterwards Lord Treasurer Burghley, and stamped with his name
and that of his second wife, thus, WILLIAM-MYLDRED-CICYLL, within an enriched border-fillet
[846. d.]: and yet another on a book in the Grenville Library, Tractatio de Sacramentis, by
Joannes a Lasco, London, 1552 [G. 11,698.].