CAMBRIDGE BOOKBINDING 1450-1770

Among its many talented members, the Stationers' Company is lucky to include some highly renowned scholars. These include Liveryman Dr David Pearson, who this year held the Sandars Readership in Bibliography, one of the most prestigious honorary posts for book historians (another of our members, Liveryman Dr Gordon Johnson, held the Readership in 2009/10). Sandars Readers deliver a series of lectures at Cambridge University, and although it's too late to invite you to attend in person, you can catch up online thanks to Cambridge University Library's YouTube channel - follow this link for more information: https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/sandars/sandars-lectures-2022-2023

The lectures offer a fascinating insight into the evolution of the craft in Cambridge, a major centre for English book-binding, in its historical context. The study of material culture - what artefacts themeselves can tell us about their creation, use and circulation - is a vital tool for understanding our histories, and learning to 'read' bookbindings opens up a whole avenue for exploration. The accompanying book, published by the Legacy Press, is not only a major contribution to the history of the book but a beautiful book in itself.  And available just in time for Christmas... !