A binding by Arthur W Currie of Hugh MacDiarmid's poem 'To circumjack Cencrastus or The curly snake'. (Edinburgh, London, 1930) [Library shelfmark: Bdg.s.942].
This copy of Hugh MacDiarmid's epic poem 'To circumjack Cencrastus or The curly snake' is in a very striking binding. It probably dates from the 1950s and shows a blue goatskin with a serpent-like design: it has interlinked coils in black, blue, grey and tan morocco and a gilt sunburst pattern.
The binding is by the renowned Scottish bookbinder Arthur W Currie (born 1922).
Currie was originally overseer of bindings at the Edinburgh-based publishing firm of Oliver & Boyd. He later become a lecturer at Napier College, now Edinburgh Napier University.
Currie specialised in the use of coloured inks as well as gold leaf to produce his designs.