Mearne, Samuel ( 1624-1683 )
An English publisher, bookseller, and bookbinder,
about whom little definitive knowledge exists.
While Mearne's name is associated with the
splendid COTTAGE
STYLE , some authorities have expressed doubts
that he actually bound any books himself, but
rather that the famous Mearne bindings were
executed by the Dutch bookbinder Suckerman, and
that Mearne was a publisher, not a bookbinder. It
has been established, however, that Mearne's
second apprenticeship was with Jeremy Arnold, a
bookbinder and it is therefore argued that he must
have learned the craft, the question being how
many books he actually bound. It is probably
unlikely that he would have taken the time to bind
books following the Restoration, because he
quickly became an important figure in the book
trade. Mearne acquired the posts of Stationer and
Bookseller to the King, and thereafter became
Master of the Stationers' Company. It is probably
reasonable to assume, however, that, considering
his knowledge of bookbinding, he would have
continued to take an interest in the work of his
bindery.
Regardless of its origin. the cottage style came
to be regarded as distinctively English, and
attained a popularity which endured with minor
variations until the first quarter of the 19th
century, thus lasting for a longer period than any
other style of book decoration.
Mearne's second son, Charles, was his partner from
1678, and when Charles Mearne died in 1686 the
shop seems to have gone to Robert Steele, one of
Samuel Mearne's apprentices, who is last recorded
in 1710. Steele's daughter, Jane, then took over
the business, and was in turn followed (in about
1718) by THOMAS
ELLIOTT . The same set of tools can be traced
from Samuel Mearne to Elliott, by way of Charles
Mearne, Robert Steele, and Jane Steele.
At one time the most elaborate of the Restoration
bindings were attributed to Samuel Mearne. See
also: RECTANGULAR
STYLE . (109 ,
253 , 347 )
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