In the same library a copy of the Bible, 1660, and Taylor's _Rule of
Conscience_, 1676, are bound respectively in black and red morocco, and
are brilliant specimens of Samuel Mearne's work. The boards are covered
with many irregular small panels, each closely filled with small stamped
work. The Bible was lent to the Burlington Fine Arts Club in 1891, and is
figured both in their Catalogue and in Mr. Holmes's book of the
bookbindings at Windsor. A copy of the works of Charles I., 1662, now at
Windsor, is a beautiful example of Samuel Mearne's inlaid work. It is
bound in deep red morocco, with an inner panel marked with white leather.
In the centre is the royal coat, with supporters and crest; and the
remainder of the boards, especially the corners, are ornamented with
elaborate inlays of green and yellow leather, and richly stamped in gold.
The British Museum is also rich in Charles II. bindings. The Common
Prayer, printed in London in 1622, measuring 17-1/4 × 11-1/2 inches, was
bound for him in black morocco, elaborately inlaid, and stamped in gold
(Fig. 18). A broad, yellow, rectangular panel encloses at the present time
a stamp of the coat-of-arms of one of the Georges. This, of course, is a
subsequent addition, and it is impossible to say for certain whether there
was originally any stamp in the centre of the book or not; but probably
there was a crowned initial. The inner sides and corners of this panel are
ornamented with mosaics of white, red, and yellow leather, with gilded
sprays and small stamps. The outer edges of the panel have at the top
and bottom a cottage arrangement, filled in with small dotted scale
ornament, and further decorated with red mosaic inlays, having gold stamps
and sprays. A somewhat similar arrangement at the sides has scale patterns
and red mosaics, and the crowned initials of the king are impressed at the
roof angles. The gilt front edges of this volume are decorated with
paintings of incidents chosen from the life of Christ, executed under the
gold, and only visible when held in a certain position.
[Illustration: FIG. 19.--_A short View of the late Troubles in England,
etc. Oxford, 1681. Charles II._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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