Descriptions

This image by William Weaver Baker shows the inscription inside the front cover of a book bound in human skin. The library mark on the page suggests Baker had produced this image for the public library in Exeter.

Binding books in human skin was not uncommon during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The book was a copy of the The Poetical Works of John Milton from 1852. The inscription states that the skin was from George Cudmore, who had been committed to Devon County Gaol on 30 October 1829 by Francis Kingdon and was executed on 23 March 1830. He had been convicted of murdering his wife, while Sarah Dunn who lodged with his family was acquitted of the crime.


This object is not on display.

Inscription

edges handwritten handwritten 'BOOK BOUND IN HUMAN SKIN' on top edge

front (under cover glass) handwritten handwritten 'Description of Book binding' on mount