[Hardy-l] Hardy and bookbinders

[N.R. Robinson]

I am interested to find out if Hardy used any bookbinders. I am 
particularly interested in the manuscript of Jude the Obscure at the 
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. The Fitzwilliam also has the manuscript of 
Times Laughing Stocks, both given by Hardy via Sydney Cockerell. Cockerell 
had the latter bound by his favourite binder Katharine Adams. I wish to 
confirm whether Jude was actually bound by Hardy himself and wonder if 
anyone might have any information on this.

There is a stamp by the binder in Jude: "Bound by J. Larkin[s?]". It is a 
standard binding - half bound in blue leather with marbled sides and 
endpages, gilt ornamentation on spine and gilt edged pages. Have any other 
Hardy manuscripts been bound by this binder or in a similar manner ? I 
would also like to find further information about this binder. The only 
reference I have found so far is to a Jeremiah Larkins based mainly at 
Hatton Gardens, London, his dates as a binder being recorded as 1881-1901. 
I would like to confirm whether this would definitely be the same binder or 
whether there may be other possible binders.

I would appreciate any assistance.

Nicholas Robinson