Binding
Contemporary, German
City or Locale: Coesfeld
Workshop: Augustinian nuns
                    EBDB w000204

List of Bindings
                    

Stamps
(Schwenke/Schunke)
  Blumentopf 1a
   

Other details
  Covering: calf (worn away)
  Endbands: plaited leather
  Boards: oak
  Supports: thongs
  Edges: plain
  Binding waste: none
  Text finish: rubricated red & blue; added penwork

Notes: This binding would be a good candidate for examples of visible book structure. However, since it is clearly a Coesfeld binding I have decided to include it with the other bindings from this shop. Even without the portion of the stamp peeking out from under the lower catch plate, we can identify the binding based on the catches (found on virtually every Coesfeld binding recorded so far), the inscription on the first page of the text, and the scribal finishing. The calfskin covering was probably removed due to obvious water damage that has left the stain on the boards. Similar water damage has affected several other Coesfeld bindings of this small folio size, including those from the Morgan that still retain their calf coverings. Coesfeld copies of other sizes, i.e. quartos and larger folios, do not show the same damage. The convent library must have shelved its books standing on their tails and according to size, and whatever water mishap occured only affected books on particular shelves.
The removal of the leather covering allows us to see the skillful forwarding work of this bindery, a high level of craftsmanship that is reflected as well in the beautiful scribal finishing of the text, a feature found in many Coesfeld copies.