Embroidered bookcovers have been popular over many centuries. Their high point came in England during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Most of these bindings cover prayerbooks, Bibles, and other devotional texts, and they have an endearing charm and a private, personal quality about them.
German, eighteenth century
Title: Genealogischer Schreib- und Post- Calendar auf das Schalt-Jahr 1764.
Published: Germany?, 1763.
Location: Rare Books: Graphic Arts
Call number: Early books -- arranged chronologically
Spine height: 10 cm

 
British, seventeenth century
Author: Ovid, 43 B.C.-17 or 18 A.D.
Title: Phaetons folly, or, The downfal of pride.
Published: London: Printed for George Calvert, 1655.
Location: Rare Books (Ex)
Call number: 2893.711
S pine Height: 13 cm

 
British, seventeenth century
Author: Bayly, Lewis, d. 1631
Title: The Practice of pietie directing a Christian to walk that he may please God.
Published: Amsterdam: John Stafford, 1649.
Location: Scheide Library (WHS)
Call number: Scheide 11.2.21
Spine height: 9.5 cm

 
British, seventeenth century
Author: Bible. N.T. English. Authorized. 1628.
Title: The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Published: Cambridge: Printers to the Universitie, 1628.
Location: Rare Books: Robert H. Taylor Collection (RHT)
Call number: 17th-35
Spine height: 11 cm

 
British, seventeenth century
Author: Suckling, John, Sir, 1609-1642
Title: Fragmenta avrea.
Published: London, Printed for Humphrey Moseley, 1648.
Location: Rare Books: Robert H. Taylor Collection (RHT)
Call number: 17th-552
Spine height: 18 cm