Obviously, the price for a bookplate within a collection or individually can vary. In the 16th century bookplates flourished in germany, several early ones having been engraved by durer, but there were at that time few examples in the british isles. Ex libris is a latin phrase that means from the books. A bookplate junkie on the basics of collecting ex libris collectors. You can also find a lot of addresses on the participants lists of the congresses. Bookplates or exlibris the insect collectors forum. Originating in their modern printed form in 16thcentury germany, where books were highly valuable and treasured, bookplates became an art form practiced by artists across. Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former owner, of a book. Book plates have a long tradition, and some are collected solely for their artistic or historical value. A book containing a signed bookplate will increase the books value, but it will most often command a lesser price than a book thats been signed directly. Bookplates, also known as exlibris, have since the 15th century been placed in books to declare ownership. Bookplates have been designed by artists and engravers such as albrecht durer, thomas bewick, paul revere, kate greenaway, aubrey beardsley, marc chagall, m. Ex libris definition of ex libris by the free dictionary.
Today we are highlighting the letters, o, p, and q. A basic subdivision enables even relatively uninformed collectors to observe an ex libris and determine in which of the three categories it belongs. Bookplates are generally pasted inside the front cover of book, intended to mark ownership and to assure that a borrowed or misplaced volume may find its way back home. Claude muon made a short but very substantial presentation in which he stated that to talk about a functional exlibris is tautology. Early in 1891, a few bookplate collectors met in london to establish the ex libris society, and. The plates feature finely detailed engraving and etching, and serve as outstanding examples of period book art and typography. Slightly worn and soiled, but still in very good condition.
A system which includes bookplates, autographs, and armorial bearings on bookbindings under the one term exlibris leads to confusion in correspondence, and is therefore to be deprecated. There may be exceptions to some of our definitions our main concern is to provide you with general concepts relative to commonly used book jargon. Other ex libris collectors look at book ownership rather than. Ex libris art dedicated to the collection of ex libris. Since collectors generally prefer the earliest issue they often.
Simple typographical bookplates are termed book labels. The opqs of ex libris universum american institute of. Bookplate definition of bookplate by the free dictionary. Some collect for reasons of design, others collect the custom bookplates of celebrities, authors, historical figures or famous book collectors. Early printed labels and heraldic bookplates 15801680. Some collectors attempt to acquire plates of all kinds for example, the collection of irene dwen andrews pace, now at yale university. If an exlibrary book should come into the hands of a collector, the.
Bookplate mania in america and england peaked from 1890 to about 1920. Noted changes between various copies of the same book. The first real impetus was given by the appearance of a guide to the study of bookplates exlibris, by. Today, if there are even 200 bookplate collectors in the united states i would be very surprised. Confessions of a common reader, a 1998 collection of essays by anne fadiman. If i recall correctly from previous discussions of this topic, one reason for this definition is that if bookplates were. Other bookplates have an image that is a visual pun on the name of the owner.
Bookplate definition is a book owners identification label that is usually pasted to the inside front cover of a book. The term ex libris exlibris, in german, often found on bookplates, translates as from the library of, originated in france. Click on the following links which will direct you to the right page. Zusatztext a dizzily shopaholic comedy of crass manners. Visit the exchange days of your society where you can exchange your bookplates with other collectors. Most often bookplates are affixed to the endpaper of a book. Bookplates leave memories donate a book to a library, a book in honor of a teacher, a book in memory of a loved one leave memories. Ex libris enthusiasts have created an international network by establishing societies in nearly fifty nations with more than ten thousand artists and collectors participating. This is because a book which has come into contact with the author is most attractive to collectors. Many artists, some famous such as william hogarth, aubrey beardsley and john piper, have designed bookplates, and many significant people e. Ex libris game, a party game ex libris group, an israeli software. This abbreviated glossary covers only the most commonly encountered terms. An illustrated handbook for collectors and booklovers see other formats. Bookplates, also known by the term exlibris, evolved over centuries from simple inscriptions to printed woodcuts to an artistic medium that has attracted worldclass artists and illustrators.
The name of the owner usually follows an inscription such as from the books of. Provenance through bookplates or book labels rare books. Info select options a109 bookplate with home library and globe, ex libris wording. Ioba book terminology independent online booksellers. In the past time, they used to represent arms, crowns, symbols, etc. A label bearing the owners name or other identification that is pasted usually on the inside cover of a book. O is for offsetthe accidental transfer of ink from a printed page or illustration to an adjacent page. Bookplates make a nice thank you give a bookplate as a thank you for something nice someone has done better yet, put it inside a book and give it to the person. Advertizing definition more definition of wikipedia. British collectors treat these super libros as things apart from ex libris. So to say ex libris carrot top is to say from the library of carrot top. See more ideas about ex libris, book art and books. A bookplate or ex libris, is a printed engraved label that you paste in the inside front cover of your books to indicate that they are yours.
Decorate your laptops, water bottles, notebooks and windows. The study of and the taste for collecting bookplates hardly date farther back than the year 1860. Exlibris 77 rare vintage books on dvdrom, bookplates. Yes, yes, and too often the bookplates are plainjane, just ugly or misaligned or mismoistened so as to cause wrinkling on the verso. All definitions in this post come from abc for book collectors by john carter and nicholas barker, a classic in bookrelated vernacular. Microscopical bookplates ex libris the mccrone group. A bookplate, also known as an ex libris or exlibrys. Relief the ink is deposited from the reliefs of the plate.
All definitions in this post come from abc for book collectors by john carter and nicholas barker, a classic in book related vernacular. The early bookplates of paul nash, by clare colvin. A collection of masonic bookplates or ex libris masonic bookplate bookplates are probably the rarest of all genres. The bookplate above is an example of an authorsigned bookplate, which. Ex libris definition, from the library of a phrase inscribed in or on a book before the name of the owner.
A bookplate printed with the owners name or initials. Bookplates and ex libris are rightly admired today as miniature works of art allowing collectors to build an affordable collection of original and often signed art works in a variety of print techniques such as etching, woodblock, intaglio and aquatint. Photography book plates ex libris, ex libris bookplate vintage. Additional or supplementary material generally found at the end of a book. An overview of principal styles of bookplates in britain 16002000. The words ex libris are simply the use of latin to establish the ownership of the book. In part five of our abc blog series, we continue to explore the wenner collection using vocabulary defined in john carter and nicholas barkers classic book, abc for book collectors. Ex libris band, a dutch metal band ex libris bookshop, a swiss retail company ex libris, a 2000 episode of the television series charmedex libris. Many collectors have specialized topics and themes that they focus on. With the revival of the fashion of bookplates in recent times many jews of means adopted the custom, but few of their bookplates have any specific jewish interest. Others say that stamped and manuscript exlibris are not bookplates, and this is true. Whether an ex libris design has artistic merit or is undertaken by a famous designer is another matter, but this does not change the functional purpose of the ex libris. British collectors treat these super libros as things apart from exlibris. In our great quest to sound like rare book experts, we are exploring book specific vocabulary with examples from the wenner collection starting with letters d, e, and f.
An illustrated handbook for collectors and book lovers see other formats. A bookplate or book plate, as it was commonly styled until the early 20th century, also known as exlibris latin for from the books or library, is a printed or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the front endpaper, to indicate ownership. A bookplate or exlibris, is a printed engraved label that you paste in the inside front cover of your books to indicate that they are yours. Every two years, an international congress is held in a different country and attended by members of the worlds bookplate associations. O is for offsetthe accidental transfer of ink from a printed page or illustration to an. He also states that it can be the act of comparing the book with another. Franks whose considerable huge collection is now at the british museum. The art of bookplates in pictures books the guardian. Bookplates typically bear a name, motto, device coatof. Bookplate definition of bookplate by merriamwebster. A handbook for exlibris collectors walter hamilton on. Escher, rockwell kent, leonard baskin, barry moser, and others. A work whose authenticity or authorship is in doubt. Until the advent of bookplate collectors and their frenzy for exchange, the devising of bookplates was almost invariably left to the routine skill of the heraldicstationery salesman.
Book plate an ownership label, usually placed inside front cover. Whatever your own specialization, this website is a place to share our love of ex libris through images and historical articles. A label, placed upon or in a book, showing its ownership or its position in a library. From a collection of book plate designs, by louis rhead, boston, exlibris of maxim gorky sources. John carter s abc for book collectors describes collation as the bibliographical description of the physical composition of a book, expressed in a more or less standardized formula. Exlibris bookplate collection special collections images. A collection of masonic bookplates or exlibris by brother. A collection of masonic bookplates or exlibris masonic bookplate bookplates are probably the rarest of all genres. Info select options a107 ex libris bookplate with child in flight on bird. Bookplate design and chinese armorial porcelain, by david s. The defs of ex libris universum american institute of physics. Of recent years the artist lilien has designed bookplates of distinctly jewish character, two of which are reproduced in this volume.
The defs of ex libris universum american institute of. A person who breaks up books to sell the plates separately, or the book itself when the covers are so bad that it either has to be rebound or broken up. Endlessly diverse and appealing, bookplates also called ex libris, latin for from the books of are small decorative labels to be pasted inside a books cover to express personal ownership. Trieste publishing has a massive catalogue of classic book titles.
Antique book plates known more generally as book plates, ex libris are prints, drawings or watercolors designed by artists to be inserted into the front of books to display ownership. Bookplate collectors form an international fellowship in which the exchange of. Like many collectors of his era, sticht commissioned bookplates to mark his. A loose term implying collectible books rather than used books. A bookplate, or ex libris, is a small print for pasting inside the cover of a book to express ownership.
They are a common form of wording on the label and many people refer to them as ex libris, rather than bookplates. Now and then customers and visitors of this website, in particular starting collectors, are asking questions on some aspects of collecting bookplates. Ex libris definition and meaning collins english dictionary. See more ideas about ex libris, latin origin and vienna secession. A system which includes book plates, autographs, and armorial bearings on bookbindings under the one term ex libris leads to confusion in correspondence, and is therefore to be deprecated.
So, in the last quarter of the xixth century, a prominent character was born. Your bookplate association will surely know his address. Unite your personal library with a set of quality, custom made bookplates. A bookplate, or ex libris, is a small print for pasting inside the cover of a book, to express ownership. This could give rise to a legitimate doubt as to whether this item can be considered a bookplate or not. Samuel pepys and rudyard kipling have used them, but a personal bookplate has been available to anyone owning a. A bookplate or bookplate, as it was commonly styled until the early 20th century, also known as exlibris latin for from the books or library, is usually a small printed or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the front endpaper, to indicate ownership.
Australian bookplate society collectors, bibliophiles. Yehiel explained to me that that was his fathers ex libris meir shalev. Bookplates of the institution of mechanical engineers, by benoit junod. A book in which many prints, engravings or other illustrations have been added after publication, either professionally or by a private owner. Some collectors are firmly restricted to specific themes or styles of bookplate, others limit themselves to the work of particular artists and engravers, or to the bookplates of a particular era or locality. By the late 19th century, bookplates had developed into. A term indicating a given book is in the same condition as when originally published. The spread of collectors in turn, led to the necessity of uniting efforts through the creation of societies. One of the most famous collectors was sir augustus w. The bookplate, or ex libris, is a label affixed to the inside front cover of a book. Many have become collectible due to the designer or owner. I tend to spend my time and energy searching for 18thcentury american ex libris, bookplates from the libraries of famous people from any country, and bookplates with jewish signs.
Originally a mark of prestige and status in society, book plates emerged in the fifteenth century and usually bore the owners family coat of arms. Bookplate mania peaked in america and england from 1890 to about 1920. Cardinals wolsey and beaton used painted coats of arms though only single examples are known, some of. Here, for example, is the title page of wrights the methods of. Fisae list of symbols for techniques used in printed exlibris. Abbreviations appear alphabetized at the beginning of each respective letter. In the back of my mind is also the image of a deeply sighing author sitting down to sign a few hundred of them.
The project gutenberg ebook of french bookplates, by. Looking for online definition of bookplate or what bookplate stands for. Understandably, who would want to own a book that is is very overdue. Includes bookplates designed by timothy cole, sidney l. Thats when the really great collections were formed. Bookplates, also known by the term ex libris, evolved over centuries from simple inscriptions to printed woodcuts to an artistic medium that has attracted worldclass artists and illustrators. The name comes from a latin phrase ex libris and literally means from books. A106 bookplate with open book, candles and ex libris wording. Contact the artist of your choice and ask him to make an exlibris on your name. The ex libris collection consists of nineteenth and twentiethcentury bookplates from private and institutional libraries. Our aim is to provide readers with the highest quality reproductions of fiction and nonfiction literature that has stood the test of time.
Bookplates bear a motif relating to the books owner, such as a device, crest, badge, motto, or a commissioned design by an artist or designer. In our great quest to sound like rare book experts, we are exploring bookspecific vocabulary with examples from the wenner collection starting with letters d, e, and f. Collected together on dvdrom for the first time, in digital format we present 77 rare, vintage books concering the art of the bookplate. Intaglio the ink is deposited from the grooves of the plate. See more ideas about ex libris, prints and printmaking. A signed bookplate does add some value to the book but not as much as an actual signed page does. Sometimes called ex libris because this latin phrase meaning from the books. Other ex libris collectors look at book ownership rather than the artist who created the bookplate for example, an ex libris from the personal books of charlie chaplin, sir arthur conan doyle or charles dickens. Book one is a top recommendation for any fantasy collection and begins a new series telling of one isaac vainio.
I didnt realize how popular these bookplates must have been, but i stumbled on a massive gallery of adultoriented bookplates and thats just a tiny percentage of the whole, youd have to think. A bookplate junkie on the basics of collecting ex libris. Ex library books are considered a pariah with most selfrespecting book collectors. Kwan either knows, or does a good job of pretending to know, how the very rich of singapore, hong kong and shanghai show off their lucre. Occasionally an ex libris book comes along that is truly rare, and thus may justify a trip to the local book bindery for a nip and tuck job. In 1891 a group of serious exlibris collectors met and founded the ex libris.
By its very name and definition, an exlibris exists as a mark of ownership of books. The graphic art of the bookplate text onlyimages to be. A bookplate, also known as exlibris, is a printed or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the front endpaper, to indicate ownership. Some of the old exlibris may be seen in old prints collected in libraries and museum. A bookplate also known as exlibris is a printed or decorative label pasted into a book. Ex libris stickers featuring millions of original designs created by independent artists. The project gutenberg ebook of french bookplates, by walter. Ex libris definition of ex libris by merriamwebster. The first books were highly valuable and prestigious objects to own, hence the first bookplates usually incorporated the decorative coats of arms of the fabulously wealthy. The opqs of ex libris universum american institute of physics.
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