Leather binding materials

Goatskin
A beautiful and very durable top-quality, natural grain leather. Strong yet supple, it is used for the finest bindings. Traditionally known as Morocco leather.

Calfskin leather
A traditional high-quality leather used in fine bindings. It is long-lasting and its suppleness increases with use. Cambridge calfskin bindings use only top-grain leather.

French Morocco leather
Leather taken from a split calfskin, slightly thinner than other grades and therefore flexible and soft even when new. A French Morocco binding offers high-quality real leather at an economical price.

Bonded leather
Cambridge uses only bonded leather which is made from 100% real leather fibre, reconstituted with a strong resin bonding. That is simply the best quality bonded leather available – supple, handsome and durable.

Imitation leather
A less expensive material that has a good resemblance to real leather. It has an attractive feel is easily cleaned.

Berkshire leather
A term for pigskin — the material most commonly used in bookbinding when 'genuine leather' is the description used.

Most Cambridge leather-bound Bibles have flexible covers. Some of the larger Bibles — those described as 'over boards' – have a rigid cover.