George Bayntun was born in Bath in 1873 and set up his own bindery in 1894. In 1920 he acquired George Gregory's antiquarian business and moved into 23 Manvers Street, where the bookshop and the bindery have been ever since. The Bayntun and Riviere binderies merged at the same address in 1939, drawing one trade line back to Robert Riviere's Bath bindery of 1829. The firm is now in its fourth generation, run by Edward Bayntun-Coward, great-grandson of George.
Bayntun-Riviere is the last of the great Victorian trade binderies still in family ownership. Every binding leaves the bench on Manvers Street sewn by hand on cords or tapes. Three things separate the bench from anywhere else.
The largest collection of finishing tools and blocks in the world. Brass gilt rolls, hand-cut letter punches, ornamental wheels, some pieces eighteenth-century, all still in active use. When the bindery quotes for a period rebind, the work begins by choosing the tools a contemporary binder would have used.
The bindery uses 23.5-carat gold leaf in preference to 24-carat. The slightly lower carat handles better under the heated tool, takes the impression cleanly, and ages in the way the firm has always wanted it to. Edges are gilt to order in the same gold. The bench has the same gilding habits it had under George Bayntun.
Premium goat and calf skins kept in over forty colours, with calf stained in-house to match originals where the binding calls for it. Hand-marbled endpapers in a wide selection, made the traditional way on a bath. Nothing on the bench is glued where it can be sewn.
Stock has been built over four generations. The shop's emphasis is on English literature in fine binding, first editions, and illustrated editions, with around three to four catalogues issued each year. What follows is on the shelves at 23 Manvers Street at the time of writing.
A recent commission, full morocco, gilt rolls on the boards and four raised bands on the spine. Edge-gilt in 23.5-carat. The kind of work that comes back through the door fifty years later still sound.
George Bayntun acquired George Gregory's business in 1920, the stock then occupying twenty-three rooms, and moved it into the present site. The shop today still holds the run of stock that defines the firm.
Recent catalogues include Calf, Selected Pickering Books from the library of John Porter (Parts One to Three), Familial Familiar and Unfamiliar, and Presenting Jane Austen. Around three to four catalogues a year, posted on request.
A working trade bindery on Manvers Street. Every binding sewn by hand on cords or tapes. Over forty colours of premium goat and calf skins in stock. Hand-marbled endpapers, edge-gilt to order. The largest collection of finishing tools and blocks in the world, over fifteen thousand pieces, some eighteenth-century, still in active use.
Commissions accepted for individuals and institutions worldwideFine bindings old and new, first editions, illustrated editions, with an emphasis on English literature. The stock has been built over four generations. The Pickering library, Jane Austen, 18th-century selections, the Calf catalogue, all turn over from the shelves at 23 Manvers Street.
Around three to four catalogues a yearCustom-made protective enclosures, cloth or leather, for individual books and small collections. Drop-back boxes, chemises, four-flap wrappers, all hand-cut and edge-gilt where required. The bindery makes them in the same room as the bindings they protect.
Made to the dimensions of your bookRe-jointing and re-backing the most frequent work, preserving original leather wherever possible. Period-style rebinding in calf or morocco for books beyond repair, stained to match originals, tooled in the appropriate period idiom. Advice and referrals where the bindery cannot take on the work.
Capacity currently limited, please write before postingDuring the Second World War Queen Mary sheltered at Badminton, twelve miles north of Bath, and became a regular customer of the shop. In 1950 she granted George Bayntun the appointment of Bookseller to Her Majesty. The royal warrant has hung at Manvers Street ever since.
George Bayntun himself was born in Bath on 4 August 1873. He apprenticed with the Taylor family on Trim Street, set up his own bindery in 1894, and died in 1940 aged 67. His daughter Constance kept the firm alive through the war years. Her son Hylton Bayntun-Coward took over management in 1954 and twice served as ABA President. Today the firm is run by Hylton's son Edward Bayntun-Coward, fourth generation, High Sheriff of Somerset 2016 to 17, Deputy Lieutenant, and Chair of the Holburne Museum.
“After twenty seven years his books are sound and with any kind of care they will remain so forever.”
Wilmarth Lewis, Collectors Progress, 1954
Robert Riviere establishes his bindery in Bath, six years before Queen Victoria comes to the throne.
George Bayntun, apprenticed with the Taylor family on Trim Street, sets up his own bindery in Northumberland Place.
Bayntun acquires George Gregory's antiquarian business, the stock then occupying twenty-three rooms, and moves into 23 Manvers Street.
The Bayntun and Riviere binderies are combined at the Manvers Street site, one year before George Bayntun's death.
Queen Mary, who sheltered at Badminton during the war and became a regular customer, grants the firm the appointment of Bookseller to Her Majesty.
Hylton Bayntun-Coward, Constance's son, takes over the management. He will twice serve as ABA President.
Edward Bayntun-Coward runs the firm from Manvers Street. High Sheriff of Somerset 2016 to 17, Deputy Lieutenant, Chair of the Holburne Museum.
The bindery accepts commissions for individuals and institutions across the world. A binding usually begins with a conversation: the book in hand, the use it will see, the leather and the design. Estimates are given before any work is started. For a serious antiquarian piece, the conversation is best in person at Manvers Street.
For visits, an appointment is preferred so the right person is on hand. Phone 01225 466000 ahead, or write to enquiries@georgebayntun.com.
A working bindery as well as a shop. The lunchtime hour from 13:00 to 14:00 belongs to the bench. Appointments preferred for antiquarian viewings.
For anything not here, the shop is on the phone five days a week.
Yes, for individuals and institutions worldwide. Write or phone with the book in hand, or its dimensions and condition, and the bindery will discuss the binding style, leather choice, gilt design and timing. Estimates given before any work is started.
In most cases yes, though capacity is currently limited following the retirement of one of the bindery's restorers. The most frequent work is re-jointing and re-backing, preserving the original leather wherever possible. If we cannot take on a piece, we will say so and offer a referral.
Yes. Every binding leaves the Manvers Street bench sewn by hand on cords or tapes. Glue is used only where sewing cannot reach. This is one of the reasons Wilmarth Lewis wrote in 1954 that "after twenty seven years his books are sound and with any kind of care they will remain so forever."
Yes, during opening hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm. For serious viewings of antiquarian stock or to discuss a binding commission, an appointment is preferred so the right person is on hand. Phone 01225 466000 ahead of a visit.
Yes, around three to four a year. Recent catalogues include Calf (November 2025), Selected Pickering Books from the library of John Porter Part Three (October 2025), Familial Familiar and Unfamiliar (April 2025) and Presenting Jane Austen (July 2024). Catalogues are available on request.