Armorial blocks and tools specially cut for the British Museum Library Bindery

Abstract

• In 1866, the British Museum Library’s official bookbinder, Charles Tuckett junior, compiled a catalogue of motifs (created using bookbindings tools) which had been made for the bindery. Books formerly from the libraries of historic collectors were often decorated in a particular style, frequently featuring a coat of arms. When the Museum bindery was required to repair or rebind such items, it was important to reflect the earlier style of binding, including the coat of arms. The Trustees of the Museum commissioned professional tool makers to engrave arms blocks for use in the binding workshop. In the 1950s, Assistant Keeper Howard Nixon had additional arms blocks and heraldic motifs cut, and added images to the catalogue. The catalogue is kept by Printed Heritage Collections and the bookbindings tools by the Library’s Conservation Centre.