Anthony Hobson (1921–2014), former Director of Sotheby’s, devoted a lifetime of observation, travel and study to the history of decorated bookbindings produced in Italy during the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. This volume draws together Hobson’s studies of workshops located outside Rome and Venice, comprising updated versions of previously published articles as well as wholly new work. It has been supplemented by the editors, Edward Potten and Mirjam Foot, with full bibliographical descriptions, extended provenances and citations to published literature.

The catalogue is arranged by location covering twelve centres of production and listing bindings attributed by Hobson to more than seventy workshops. It includes indices to current locations, provenances, and places of binding and binders. At least one binding from each workshop is illustrated in colour, showing as wide a variety of distinctive tools as possible. This volume makes an exceptional contribution not only to the history of bookbinding, but also to the study of the Italian book, enhancing our understanding of book-use and patronage, trade, craft and art in Renaissance Italy; it is both a tribute to Anthony Hobson and an essential reference tool for anyone working on the history of the Italian Renaissance.

EDWARD POTTEN was formerly an Associate Director and Head of Rare Books at Cambridge University Library and is a freelance consultant.

MIRJAM FOOT is a scholar working in the field of book history; she was formerly a Director of the British Library and is Emeritus Professor of Library and Archive Studies at University College, London.