Novum Jesu Christi Testamentum

1682

de Beer Eb 1682 B

[London: Samuel Mearne]

Samuel Mearne (1624–1683) was an English bookbinder whose work is considered a highpoint of pre-industrial bookbinding. He was also a publisher. As a royal binder to King Charles II, he created many gold tooled and onlay bindings for gifts and presentation copies. He also reputedly introduced the ‘rectangular’ style into England. Although by no means certain, this binding of Sébastien Castellion’s popular reworking of the New Testament may have been done by Mearne, and if so, it may have been one of his last; he died in 1683. Alternatively, it could have been executed by another binder, with the great Mearne overseeing production.