This book features tanned red goatskin applied to the boards in a standard form. Into this, however, has been stitched an abundance of gold thread and silver wire, forming a decorative panel design on both the upper and lower boards. The time and expense that the creation of this binding must have incurred mark this book out as a most prestigious item. But why go to all that trouble for a copy of Caesar’s Gallic wars?

New College Library, Oxford, BT1.127.9

New College Library and Archives, Oxford