Anthony Cains

Anthony Gerald (Tony) Cains (28 December 1936 – 4 November 2020) was an English bookbinder, book conservator, and director of conservation at the Library of Trinity College Dublin. Cains was known for his conservation and rebinding of many significant manuscripts including the 8th-century Book of Mulling for Trinity College Dublin, the early medieval Stowe Missal for the Royal Irish Academy, and the 15th-century Ellesmere Manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales for the Huntington Library.

Early life and training Cains was born in London in 1936, the only child of Alfred and Vera Cains. He grew up in Kilburn, a London suburb. While his father served in the army during World War II, a young Cains was evacuated to the New Forest. before setting up his own workshop in St Albans. Cains was also a part-time instructor at Camberwell School of Art and Crafts, the London College of Printing, and the Farnham School of Art.

In 1972, Cains was recruited by the Library of Trinity College Dublin and appointed Technical Director of Conservation,

Cains was a founding member and later director of the Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (now the Institute of Conservator-Restorers in Ireland) and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the organization in 2014.

Personal life Cains married Elaine McCoy in 1965 and the couple had three sons. They owned a Georgian home, and Cains managed its restoration. He enjoyed fly-fishing and tied his own flies.

Death Cains died in 2020 at his home in Dublin on the 54th anniversary of the 1966 Florence flood.