The Art of the BookplateSterling Publishing Company, 2003 - 175 pages The world is full of people who love books. People who not only love to read, but who love to possess and collect books. Since the fifteenth century truly devoted collectors have commissioned their own bookplates, known also as ex libris. Some are straightforward ? a simple label bearing the owner?s name. Others are impressive works of art in miniature. Whether plan or fancy, book plates give an owner a special sense of proud proprietorship. Even more important, they assure that if a cherished book is lent, it has a decent chance of being returned. They are an indulgence of the rich and famous, certainly. And, ?The art of the Bookplate? includes many owned by prominent people such as George Washington, Charlie Chaplin, John F. Kennedy, Joan Crawford J.P. Morgan, Walt Disney, Grace Allen, Otto Bismarck, Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Houdini, Sigmund Freud, Charles Dickens, and Anita Loos. But other bookplate patrons are unknown to us, like Mabel Bishop, whose charming ex libris shows a young woman tending her garden, or Lucius Fisher, whose bookplate, naturally enough, features a fish. In this delightful book James P. Keenan, Director of the American Society of bookplate collectors & Designers, shares many of his favorite bookplates. He explains the history behind each, and discusses the artists ? some as famous as Rockwell Kent and Claes Oldenburg, others as unknown or not ex libris owners are passionate about keeping their book collections intact. As one very old bookplate proclaims, ?Steal not this book for fear of shame. For here you see the owner?s name.? The Art of the Bookplate is a book to be treasured and, of course, kept in your possession. -- |
Common terms and phrases
allegorical bookplate American Artists American Dates unknown American Society Anita Loos armorial bookplate art nouveau Belasco best known book collector book illustrator Bookplate Collectors bookplate designed bookplate incorporates BOOKPLATE JAMES Born British career Century Association Charles charming children's book Claes Oldenburg coat of arms Collectors & Designers Colonial colorful commissioned copperplate created decorative depicts Derlip designed this bookplate director E. D. French Eleanor Roosevelt elegant ex libris ex libris designed famous film FRIEL George Plimpton German Gracie Allen graphic Grolier Club handsome Harpo Henry heraldic Hirshhorn inspired interest J. P. Morgan Japanese Joan Crawford Joseph Hirshhorn Kate Greenaway landscape Latin motto Louis lovers Margaret Sanger motifs Nationality and dates owner owner's name Paul Revere plate popular printed printmakers reading represented ROBERT Rockwell Kent Sanger scene Selznick Society of Bookplate style SUSAN MARX symbol theater Valentino vignette Walt Disney WALTER WANGER William wood engraving York
Popular passages
Page 5 - And each book in my study your pleasure attends. If through respect or love I lend This book unto my worthy friend, He must not soil, abuse, nor tear, But read with diligence and care ; And when its contents you have learned, Remember, it must be RETURNED. On the plate of Samuel W. Francis appear the following lines : — Any one may borrow, But a gentleman returns. The property of Thomas C. Cowan. Borrower, read, mark, and AVOID the former part of Psalm xxxvtt.
Page 5 - Steal not this book for fear of shame, For here you see the owner's name ; Restore it back il lost it be For the owner's name above you see.
Page 5 - ... is rather a stark warning to anyone who might be considering taking away the book. The success of the warning is suggested by the fact that the book with its label can still be seen. (Fig. 1) Part of the inscription might perhaps be interpreted rather as follows: To steal this book closes the gate of heaven, and to destroy it opens the gates of hell. Anyone who takes away this book without permission will be punished by all the gods of Japan.
Page 5 - A jolly goode booke, Whereon to looke, Is better to me than golde.