96 ENGLISH BINDING AND BINDERS,

Dikv

Et Mon

Droyt

and in a corresponding one lower down, the year inwhich it was bound.

M. D. L. II.

In two smaller circles are placed the queen’s initials,thus:—

E—R

surmounted by the crown.

In the British Museum , is also a “ Ciceronis Ora-tiones,” 2 vols. 12mo. Aldine 1540, in another curiousstyle of binding of this period. It is in calf, the or-nament painted on the sides with a variety of colours.This consists of a series of scroll-work, surroundinga crest of a dog. The binding is rather clumsy.

These specimens will be sufficient, establishing, asthey do, that the hinders of this period had introduceda variety of styles in the bindings of books, and werestill lavish of ornament. That they continued so todo in the reign of James I. there will shortly be occa-sion to show, where some additional facts will also beproduced, in descanting on another material for thecovers of books, adopted at a later date, and fromits quality and durability, ever since preferred for thebest bindings.

Some light is derived relative to the materials usedfor covers during the period we have been illustrating,from a letter of the High Commissioners in Elizabeth’sreign, concerning superstitious books belonging to