A Fine Scottish “Sombre” Binding on George Buchanan’s Poemata: An Elegant Survival of Edinburgh Bookbinding

Buchannan, George  (1506–1582)  Poemata quae extant. Editio postrema.

Lugduni Batavorum (Leiden): Ex officina Elzeviriana, 1638.

Small 12mo. 100mm x 60mm

Engraved additional title with portrait, typographic title, woodcut initials. Some light age-toning and occasional marginal marks, but a clean, well-preserved copy.

Binding

Contemporary Scottish “sombre” binding of blind tooled calf, most probablyEdinburgh, c. 1640–1660. The covers are elaborately decorated with an all over symmetrical design composed of repeated rosette tools, scrolling dotted tendrils, and stylised foliate and floral ornaments, arranged in mirrored arcs around a central horizontal axis. The decoration is built entirely from small, repeated hand-tools, rather than large panel stamps, and extends across the full surface without the use of a compartmentalised frame. The spine is divided into compartments, each tooled with small floral devices. Edges plain. The calf now oxidised to a
deep, rich brown.

Condition
Some light age-toning and occasional marginal marks, but a clean, well-preserved copy.

A fine and characteristic example of the distinctive Scottish blind-tooled style of the mid-17th century, often termed “sombre bindings”, and associated with Edinburgh workshops. Unlike contemporary English
bindings, which typically employ architectural panel designs, Scottish work of this period is marked by its organic, flowing compositions, built from repeated small tools arranged in rhythmic symmetry.
Bindings of this type are increasingly recognised as one of the most distinctive regional traditions of British bookbinding, and are considerably scarcer than their English counterparts.

The present example, with its particularly clear impressions and harmonious overall design, represents a notably well-preserved specimen of the style.

Provenance
1. Early ownership inscription to front free endpaper (“T. Brown”, dated 1653?), with later shelf-marks.

References
USTC 1028636; STC Netherlands 840008244.
Institutional Copies
No recorded copies in US libraries.