Scribes were either ordinary scriveners called
librarii, or writers who drew up legal documents, known as
notarii. But the librarius and notarius often trenched
upon each other's work, and consequently a good deal of
ill-feeling usually existed between them.
Bookbinders, and booksellers or stationarii, probably
first plied their trade most prosperously in England at
Oxford and Cambridge. By about 1180 quite a number of
such tradesmen were living in Oxford; a single document
transferring property in Cat Street bears the names of
three illuminators, a bookbinder, a scribe, and two
parchmenters.[1]
[1] Rashdall, ii. 343.
Half a century later a bookbinder is mentioned
in a deed as a former owner of property in the parish of
St. Peter's in the East; another bookbinder is witness to the
deed (c. 1232-40).[1] After this bookbinders and others of
the craft are frequently mentioned. Towards the end of the
thirteenth century Schydyerd Street and Cat Street, the
centre of University life, were the homes of many people
engaged in bookmaking and selling; the former street
especially was frequented by parchment makers and
sellers.
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