Charles II. (born May 1630, died 6th February 1685) was the elder son of Charles I. In 1660 Charles ascended the throne of England, although his accession is sometimes counted from the date of the death of Charles I., 30th January 1649. In Scotland it is always so dated.
Samuel Mearne was appointed Royal Bookbinder to Charles II. in June 1660, and he bound the greater number of the King's books in a beautiful red morocco. On most of these bindings the King's initials within a palm spray appear, and sometimes the edges of the leaves of the books have designs painted upon them, only showing when the book is open. Charles II. also used several of the book-stamps that had been made for Charles I.
Mearne was one of the greatest bookbinders of any time, and apart from the splendid work he did for Charles II., he executed numbers of other bindings, many of which are inlaid and have the leather stained and painted. He invented what is known as the "Cottage" design, and his style and detail is often copied even at the present time.
CHARLOTTE OF MECKLENBURG, QUEEN CONSORT OF GEORGE III.
Arms.—On two separate shields, side by side.
Dexter shield: Quarterly.
1st and 4th, France and England, quarterly.
2nd, Scotland.