A bookplate is "a book owner's identification label that is usually pasted to the inside front cover of a book" (
Merriam-Webster). Bookplates come in varying sizes, according to the size of your book, and in varying styles of art work and illustration. They are usually adorned with the Latin phrase
ex libris, which means "from the library of" or "from the books of", followed by the owner's name.
According to
Bookplates: A Selective Annotated Bibliography of the Periodical Literature by Audrey Spencer Arellanes, the first book about bookplates was written in 1874 by Paul Emmanuel Auguste Poulet-Malassis of Paris. We've included a few illustrations from
Bookplates for your enjoyment!
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| "Plate for Emma Van Allen Ford, a discerning collector for many years, who has a well-catalogued personal collection." |
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| "Fridolf Johnson, artist, printer, editor of American Artist, designed this plate for his juvenile collection." |
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"Plate designed for Collection of Banned Books given by
attorney/author Morris L. Ernst to the University of California at
Santa Barbara." |
Do you collect bookplates? Do you use bookplates in your books? Share your thoughts with us!
Arellanes, Audrey Spencer. Bookplates: A Selective Annotated Bibliography of the Periodical Literature. Gale Research Company; Detroit, MI: 1971. Print
