Antiquarian Bookplates: 55 Bookplates to Personalize Your Library

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We discussed the general timeline of bookplates and their rise in popularity. According to Mr. Jaffe, bookplates surged in popularity at the end of the 1800s and early 1900s. During this time, the middle class began to grow. Many in the new class wanted to emulate the manners of old money families. Coupled with a shift to more affordable engraving techniques, bookplates surged in popularity, not only as collector’s items but also for personal libraries. Mr. Jaffe’s sense is that it was “like a tulip craze.” This is because “Americans had lots and lots of money, and the people in the UK had been hard pressed for cash for a variety of reasons, so Americans would come over and buy the contents of a castle, such as the books. And they would start emulating the English.” He notes that he has collected many bookplates from silent era movie stars who hopped onto the trend. Bookplates are of interest to collectors either as specimens of bygone decorative fashion or as personal relics of well-known people, and can command high prices. However the value attached to book plates, otherwise than as an object of purely personal interest, is comparatively modern. [20] Condition is everything to collectors, who will much prefer a book without a bookplate, unless the bookplate is of some significance (see below). So, unless you’re famous, it’s best not to use a bookplate. Bookplates & Book Values In other words, bookplates are works of art that reflect the personal style, preference, and/or philosophy of the owner. According to Collector’s Weekly, “Beyond Europe’s ubiquitous crests and coats of arms, other popular themes included ancient castles, ships sailing on the ocean, magnificent trees and landscapes, classical nudes, animals (especially cats), starry night skies, and, unsurprisingly, books.” These common themes were actually helpful because many personalized bookplates employed period-specific styles and/or trends, which can sometimes help in dating them and thus making connections to historical figures.

Most bookplates are intended to establish ownership, with the owner’s name either printed or written upon them. Prints & People: A Social History of Printed Pictures". The Met: Watson Library Digital Collections. Metropolitan Museum of Art. An exhibition catalogue containing material on bookplates (PDF available). Romer, Sargent (June 1916). Maurice, Arthur Bartlett (ed.). "Curiosities of a Book-Plate Collection". The Bookman. Vol.43, no.4. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co. pp.398–403. The Chekov book itself, published by Three Swans Press, is illustrated with wonderful woodcuts by Howard Simon.) Author-signed bookplates

Johnston, Alastair. "Bookplates in a Printer's Library, Part I". Booktryst . Retrieved 3 November 2017.

Meier, Allison (2014-11-18). "19th and 20th–Century Bookplates as Deeply Personal Brands of the Home Library". Hyperallergic . Retrieved 2020-08-05. In 1901–1903, the British Museum published the catalog of the 35,000 bookplates collected by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (1826–97). From the beginning of the 19th century, no special style of decoration seems to have established itself. The immense majority of examples display a plain shield of arms with motto on a scroll, and crest on a fillet. At the turn of the 20th century, however, bookplate design diversified and flourished beyond traditional armorials. [20]

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Printed ex-libris became common in France in the early 17th century. Until then, the more luxurious custom of blind- or gold-stamping a book's binding with a personal device had been more widespread: the supralibros. From the middle of the century, however, the ex-libris proper became quite popular; examples of that period are numerous and exhibit a complex design sensibility. The term "ex-libris", used as a noun ( Exlibris (written in one word) in German) originated in France. [14] England [ edit ] always be accurate, especially as regards dating of bookplates, their condition and the attribution of ownership. Although this personalization seems a tad much to our modern sensibilities, consider that it was more expensive to make books 500 years ago, so it makes sense for owners to go the extra mile and claim ownership. It all began with the invention of the Gutenberg press in the 15th century CE, which revolutionized the book-making process. Before then, all books were painstakingly crafted by hand and contained stunning calligraphy and illustrations. During the Middle Ages and early modern period, books were expensive and rare. Therefore, it made sense for book owners to mark their books to prevent theft and ensure that the books were returned if borrowed, a trend that gained traction as the Gutenberg press allowed book collectors to grow their libraries. A Brief History Of Bookplates

Adding a signature to a book helps to bridge the gap between the author and the reader. The personal connections made during a book event or book signing can turn even a casual reader into a lifelong fan of an author’s work. Lee, Brian North (Summer 1982). "Pictorial Bookplates in Britain". The Private Library. 3. Private Libraries Association. 5 (2): 58–116. Pearson, David (2019). "What is the First English Bookplate?". The Library: The Transactions of the Bibliographical Society. 20 (4, 13 December 2019): 527–532. doi: 10.1093/library/20.4.527. ISSN 1744-8581. Bookplates designed during specific time periods generally reflect the popular trends, such as ornate family crests during the Jacobean period. Bookplates created in Europe and North America between 1500 and 1800 are classified as: English, Jacobean, Chippendale, or Ribbon & Wreath. The King’s College Archive Centre notes that “From the Jacobean period (1567–1625) to the Edwardian era these printed bookplates evolved into elegant engravings…The ex-libris often incorporate a name, motto and coat-of-arms which relate to the book’s owner. Famous artists such as William Hogarth and members of the Bloomsbury group all designed bookplates for themselves and others.”Another author recently took this idea and turned it up a few notches. Will Maclean, author of “The Apparition Phase” created a unique and memorable publicity campaign by personalizing copies of his book in a way no one has seen before. Some collectors attempt to acquire plates of all kinds (for example, the collection of Irene Dwen Andrews Pace, now at Yale University, comprising 250,000 items). Other collectors prefer to concentrate on bookplates in special fields—for example, coats of arms, pictures of ships, erotic plates, chess pieces, legal symbols, scientific instruments, signed plates, proof-plates, dated plates, plates of celebrities, or designs by certain artists.