[Gutenberg 47682] • American Book-Plates: A Guide to Their Study with Examples

American, Name-labels, Mottoes, Armorial, Book-plates, Engraver, Ex Libris

IN a few years Book-plate literature will have a place in the catalogues of the Libraries, as it now has in those of the dealers in books. The works of the Hon. J. Leicester Warren (Lord de Tabley), Mr. Egerton Castle, and Mr. W. J. Hardy on the English plates, Mr. Walter Hamilton, M. Henri Bouchot, and M. Poulet-Malassis on the French, Herr Warnecke on the German, and M. Carlander on the Swedish, are all the work of master hands, and are recognized as authorities. In our own country the lists and essays of Mr. Richard C. Lichtenstein and Mr. Laurence Hutton have long been of invaluable service, and occupy a position both at home and abroad of undisputed eminence.

A large number of articles has also been contributed to periodical literature by those well informed upon the subject, and numerous monographs testify to the growth of interest in this fascinating study, and by the names of their authors, to the class of scholars and students of antiquarian lore who deem the humble book-plate worthy of their attention.

In view of what has been and of what will be written, this present modest attempt to introduce more fully than has yet been done, the book-plates of America, needs to be understood as simply a pioneer work; a great deal of information will reward the patient and painstaking investigator of the future, which is now inaccessible, and without doubt, too, much will be found even within the present to supplement these pages.

This book could not have been undertaken nor carried to completion had the writer been denied the generous assistance and hearty sympathy of our collectors, to whom he desires to express his appreciation of the kindnesses shown him.

Especially to Mr. R. C. Lichtenstein, Mr. E. N. Hewins, and Mr. Fred J. Libbie of Boston, does he feel under deep obligation for the generous loan of their splendid collections, for ready advice and counsel, for cheerful assistance whenever asked for, and for that tangible sympathy and lively interest which are worth so much to one engaged in such work. To many others also is he indebted, both for the loan of plates and for kindly words of encouragement.

CONTENTS

Preface

A List of the Illustrations

Introductory

Name-labels and Mottoes

Armorial Book-plates

Pictorial and Allegorical Book-plates and Plates of Colleges, Libraries, and Societies

Book-plates of Special Interest

Early American Book-plate Engravers, with Lists of Their Work

An Alphabetical List of Early American Book-plates

A Chronological List of the Dated Plates

An Alphabetical List of the Signed Plates, showing the Exact Manner of Signing

A List of Mottoes found upon the Early Plates, with Translations

A Few Recent Examples

The American Collectors and Collections

The Ex Libris Societies

Bibliography (American, English, and French)

Conclusion

Index