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An embroidered binding

One of the Folger’s most prized bindings, decorated with seed pearls and raised silver thread, holds a 1608 manuscript in the hand of the calligrapher Esther Inglis.

The front of an oblong book shut with a silver clasp.
The front of an oblong book shut with a silver clasp.
The front of an oblong book shut with a silver clasp.
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The cover of an oblong book laid flat to show the front, side, and back cover. Attached to the cover on the left is a silver clasp. A page in an oblong book showing a painted yellow-gold rectangular border with a floral design showing red, white, and blue flowers. Inside the border is the following text: “ARGUMENTA PSALMORU DAVIDIS PER TETRASTICHA. MANU ESTHERAE INGLIS. EXARATA, STRENAE NOMINE ILLUS: PRINCIPI HENRICO. OBLATA, 1608.” Opening of an oblong book. On the left is an elaborate crest in blue and red topped with a crown, text that is too small to read here circling a shield. On the right is text circled by a wreath-like border in green, gold, and red. The right edge of the wreath is cut off. The text is a dedication to Henry, Prince of Wales, in Latin, dated 1608.

Esther Inglis. Argumenta psalmorum Davidis. Manuscript, 1608. Folger call number V.a.94. The gift of Lessing J. Rosenwald.

One of the Folger’s most prized bindings is this small red velvet volume, decorated with raised silver thread and hundreds of seed pearls, which form a floral arrangement stemming from a vase.

The binding holds a 1608 manuscript in the hand of the calligrapher Esther Inglis. Researchers consider it quite likely that Inglis herself created the intricate and delicate binding for presentation to Henry, Prince of Wales, the son of James I, to whom the work is dedicated.

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