A MASTER bookbinder whose distinctive designs are sought across the world has died, aged 89.

Ivor Robinson MBE was known to be amongst the finest in his trade of bookbinding by hand and as a long-time teacher he had considerable influence on the subject in Britain.

His unique style often featured staccato lines and were often gilded with gold leaf.

Taking just three commission jobs each year, he produced 152 bound books, many of which are either now in public exhibitions, private collections, or libraries and archives, including the Bodleian Library.

One of his works, an edition of Virgil’s Le Georgiche made in 1968, is known to have sold for more than £8,000 in San Francisco in 2013.

Ivor Alfred Gordon Robinson was born on October 28, 1924, in Bournemouth, to parents Arthur and Jean (nee Reid).

He grew up with one brother, Brian, now aged 81. The son of a chauffeur, he attended a school in Bournemouth, since demolished.

It was during his early years that he received a William Morris book from his grandmother, which became the first book of many he was to bind in his lifetime.

A Sea Scout, he attempted to join the Navy after leaving school but was unsuccessful due to being short-sighted, but was later accepted during the Second World War, taking part in the Battle of Normandy supplying the Army after landing on Sword Beach.

He found success as an apprentice at the bookbinders SE Bray and Co at age 14 in 1938 completing his apprenticeship there after the war. He later became a part-time student in 1939 at Bournemouth School of Art, where he was called on temporarily to fill as a teacher.

After he moved to Salisbury going into business and lecturing at Salisbury College of Art.

He met Olive Trask at a conference held in St Francis Church, Salisbury, in September 1951. By January 1, 1952 they were engaged and married in the same church on April 14.

In 1953 the couple moved to London, where Mr Robinson taught bookbinding full-time at the London School of Printing and Graphic Arts, now the London College of Communication.

They had their first child, Hilary, in 1956, followed by Martin in 1962.

In 1959 Mr Robinson became lecturer of bookbinding at Oxford Polytechnic, now Oxford Brookes University, and moved to Croft Avenue, Kidlington.

He was to hold the job for the next 30 years. The family moved to Bladon in 1966, Kennington in 1968 and finally to Holton in 1975.

In 1968 he published the first edition of his now-renowned book, Introducing Bookbinding.

And in the same year he was the subject of a solo exhibition in the Galleria Bel Libro, Switzerland.

In 1989 Mr Robinson was made an honorary fellow of Oxford Brookes University and in 1992 he was awarded an MBE.

From 1968 to 1973 he held the position of president of the Guild of Contemporary Bookbinders and was later made a fellow.

Mr Robinson enjoyed classical music, particularly that of Handel, which he could often be heard whistling around his home, and was an active cyclist.

Ivor Robinson died peacefully on February 19. His wife, his son, his daughter and his granddaughter Lotte, seven, survive him.

A funeral was held on March 6 at St Bartholomew’s Church, Holton.