Cambridge style
An English style of bookbinding practiced largely
on theological works and in university libraries.
Although used elsewhere, the style was so highly
favored by binders in Cambridge in the early years
of the 18th century that it became recognized as
their speciality, which probably accounts for the
name. Books bound in this style were sewn on
raised cords, covered in calfskin that was masked
and sprinkled in such a manner as to leave a
stained central rectangular panel, a plain
rectangular frame, which, in turn, was surrounded
by a stained outside frame. The books had Dutch
marble endpapers and red edges. The spine was
pieced with red russia leather labels and had
double blind lines at head and tail on each side
of the raised bands. The covers were decorated
with a two-line fillet close to the edges and on
each side of the panel. and with a narrow flower
roll worked on each side of the panel close to the
lines. There were many variations of this style,
including some books tooled in gold, and some with
marbled covers and sprinkled panels. (69 , 154 )
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