* S. A DEFENSE OF BOOKPLATES LY THEODORE WESLEY Kocn OK plate has been described as a bame plate decorated, not a decoration cefaced by a name plate. The essential oint is that it is a name-label, a means of ideale tion for lost, strayed, or stolen volsequently ononymous book pla es are pale s This nime-label may be printed or graven and the name may be expressed herabl hy of otherwise, but its prime object is, or was, · n pasted inside the covers of a book or addeți as its tit, or ", leaves, to proclaim the ownership f the bock. The origin of the book pla.e is found in the osure of the owner of a book to retain possession his property. Many estimable people fnd a eulty in distinguishing between mire and thine a books as well as in umbrellas. Therefore, both hould be marked for identification. Books in the early libraries were 2 ed. Then they became cheaper and multiplied rapidy, chains were done away with, but marks of nership were placed either inside the covers or the covers of books to prevent their straying. eks of ownership on the covers usually contast i of monograms or coats-of-arms done in gold |