Spectacular wooden binding - carved, burnt, stamped or water-logged? Major Abbey’s copy
There has been much discussion and speculation on the actual method used to mass produce these extraordinary wooden bindings. They were often referred to as “carved” but closer study makes this seem unlikely. “Burned” has also been suggested, but with no signs of any residual scorching this has also been thought unlikely. “Heat-stamped” has gained credence in recent years. However, laid in loose, there is a photocopy of an entry in The Register of Arts and Sciences of “Mr Straker’s New Mode of Embossing on Wood (From the Transactions of the Society of Arts)” where he suggests a method of impressing a design on the wood; planing the surface level again, then immersing in water to swell the design. There is perhaps yet more research to be done on these unique bindings.
For Straker’s method see https://www.jstor.org/stable/41315562