Embroidered for Queen Elizabeth I, C.24.b.8

Author Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, had this copy of his book De antiquitate Britannicae Ecclesiae (London, 1572) specially bound for the Queen, who was known to appreciate embroidered covers. The design on green velvet incorporates a deer park, perhaps a punning reference to Parker’s name, Tudor roses and other flowers. It was probably the work of a professional needle worker. BL catalogue record: https://catalogue.bl.uk/permalink/44BL_MAIN/1jgdp16/alma990027798160109251 British Library Online Image Database of Bookbindings record: https://web.archive.org/web/20160305152925/http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/bookbindings/LargeImage.aspx?RecordId=020-000002662&ImageId=ImageId=40936&Copyright=BL For more information see: https://bl.iro.bl.uk/concern/generic_works/86f4acc8-ab75-421e-a5a3-ea9adeed7a68 and https://web.archive.org/web/20230921075901/https://www.bl.uk/collection-guides/bookbindings CC Attribution (CC BY © British Library Board)