994 A5C33 z. CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT OF Mrs. A. D. White Cornell University Library 2994.A5 C33 Book-plates of well-known Americans by olin 3 1924 029 546 557 om ^KR^NlftlUfflOhi* IIJIAV 1 1 1GQS* 2 mm *tefc»*5®E*\ CAYLORO I PRINTED IN U.S. A. Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029546557 aJ/u/fiy&m Book-Plates of Weil-Known Americans by CLIFFORD N. CARVER Princeton University Press Princeton, New Jersey — 1911 — W »' .■;-' ; A (A 1- L vuhk&un v l-SUKAft Y \i a i No.. I.* of a limited edition of 250 copies Each signed by the author. ■yh^r?. INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS Bancroft, George 13 Beecher, Henry Ward 15 Belasco, David 17 Carnegie, Andrew 19 Depew, Chauncey M 27 Hillis, Newell Dwight 23 Holmes, Oliver Wendell 25 London, Jack 27 Morgan, J. Pierrepont 29 Revere, Paul 31 Roosevelt, Theodore 33 Taft, William Howard 35 van Dyke, Henry 37 Washington, George 39 Washington, Bushrod Frontispiece White, Andrew D 41 Wilson, Francis 43 Wilson, Woodrow 45 BOOK-PLATES OF WELL- KNOWN AMERICANS Any collector who appreciates art, as well as the pleasure of collecting, finds an unusual amount of fascination in book-plates. The use of book-plates is of some antiquity as mention has been made of one dated in the middle of the 15th century. This somewhat awkward name used for the labels of owner- ship frequently placed on the inside covers of books, is replaced by ex-libris abroad and this expression seems far more suitable than the misleading term "book-plate". To quote a book on ex-libris written 1895, "Book- plates may be roughly divided into two kinds — name labels and armorial plates"; although in the present age allegorical plates and others ornamented with minature land- scapes are coming into popularity. Artistic ex-libris although frequently mentioned are found infrequently. In presenting this modest collection of interesting ex-libris from the books of well- known Americans, I wish not only to give pleasure to those who may enjoy the repro- ductions but to express my appreciation of the kindness of many contributors to my col- lection and to Mr. Charles Dexter Allen for the use of his Revere and George Washing- ton plates, which are the only reproductions not made from plates in my personal col- lection. Many of the older American ex-libris that might have been included in these pages have been omitted because in most cases the plates have already become well-known to collectors and those interested in the subject through the various excellent works on American ex- libris. I have endeavored to gather together, in these pages, plates belonging to persons in as many different spheres of public life as possible : authors, poets, statesmen, theo- logians, orators, financiers and education- alists. The Washington plates are of special in- terest to Americans, as it is said that the idea of the American flag was conceived from the Washington arms appearing on the plates. A great similarity exists between the plates of George Washington and his nephew Bush- rod Washington, although slight changes in the erroneous heraldry of the first plate can be readily seen. No date is to be found on either plate, and it is a matter of difficulty to determine whether the plates were engraved here or in England. 8 A plain armorial plate with the motto Vera Pro Gratis on a ribbon beneath the shield was used by Daniel Webster, statesman and jurist, his signature at the bottom completing the design. Paul Revere, of Revolutionary fame, though trained in the profession of a gold- smith, nevertheless took up the art of engrav- ing (with but slight success). His own plate is an excellent example of his productions of ex-libris. The ex-libris of George Bancroft, the his- torian, represents a cherub bearing a scroll upon which is a Greek motto. Below the cherub appears the owner's signature, a quite common custom with older plates. The charming book mark used by Oliver Wendell Holmes well deserves a prominent place as being one of the most artistic, as well as interesting plates in this collection. A beautiful representation of the "Chambered Nautilus" — "the Ship of Pearl", as he calls it — is the chief feature of the plate. Henry Ward Beecher used a plain plate with his signature and address upon it, whereas his successor in Plymouth Church, Newell Dwight Hillis, uses a plate of more elaborate design. Dr. Hillis' plate shows a bust of Minerva mounted upon a pedestal and having a mosaic background. In the foreground a book-pile, an hour-glass, a quill, and ink are shown, with the motto "Haec stmt mea instrument a", appearing back of them. Turning to the plate of a playwright one finds that of David Belasco of great artistic value. It is one of the most carefully exe- cuted of the modern work and typifies the care shown by the man himself in all his work as playwright and manager. Known as the greatest giver of public li- braries in the world, Andrew Carnegie has chosen a most simple but attractive ex-libris for use in his personal library. To quote a letter from Mr. Carnegie, the architect of Dunfermline Library, which Mr. Carnegie gave to his native town (the first library he ever gave), asked him for his coat-of-arms to be placed over the doorway. Mr. Carnegie replied that he had none but suggested a rising sun, its rays spreading, with the words "Let there be light"; and this feature is the basis of his own ex-libris. The ex-libris of the Hon. Chauncey M. Depew was made about twenty years ago by Stauffer. The figure of an old man is repre- sented seated at a table placed in front of an open window and holding a paper with the Depew arms upon it. Books are also given a prominent place in the design, and the whole 10 is enclosed in a simple frame, making a most artistic pictorial plate. Among the literary plates of the present day, the simple wolf head appearing on Jack London's plate is among the most attractive. Since he is a writer of animal life and "The Call of the Wild", which is among his best known books, being the story of a wolf, the plate is most appropriate. Mr. Morgan uses an armorial plate in his great library, and in its severity it is very artistic. An armorial plate is also used by Ex-President Roosevelt; both plates being engraved by stationers. The President's plate was both designed and engraved by Frederick Spencely, one of America's most prominent engravers of ex- libris. In the plate is shown a splendid re- production of Mr. Taft's family home, the seal of the government, the balances of jus- tice, a book of law, and the seal of his Univer- sity—Yale. To quote Mr. Taft : "The house is that of my grandfather Samuel D. Torrey at Millbury, Mass., and is now owned and occupied by my aunt Miss Delia Torrey. It is where I spent the summers of my boyhood and my college vacations." The plate of Henry van Dyke, clergyman, author and scholar, which in the original is of a beautiful sepia tone, may be classed 11 among the most artistic of the present day ex-libris. Dr. van Dyke, being a lover of fishing and a great reader as well as an author, has represented upon his plate in a somewhat symbolical form his two occupa- tions. "Although they are seldom chrono- logically combined", says Professor van Dyke, a nude figure is seen seated beside a river bank, reading and with patience hold- ing a rod. His crest, as well as his motto are also artistically worked into the design. The White book-plate was prepared by Wyon of London, the seal cutter to the Brit- ish government and has been used for the col- lection of books which the Ex-President of Cornell turned over in a great part to the university — about thirty thousand volumes in all. The quotation from Publius Syrus has reference to the fact that the library is his- torical, hence the words : "The day after is the disciple of the day before." The other example shown is the plate used by Mr. White at the present time in his personal library. The present Governor of New Jersey and Ex-President of Princeton University has chosen what is known among collectors as a "book-pile" for his plate and the extreme simplicity of the plate adds to its charm. 12 •t&LQjL fyttMCA 7 13 'jz^ C^Ce^-^. S2CoWni}>iaSt. 15 5115.. ..SEC. LI 19 21 'y/?yW ^/^/?yce-yO( '■/////■J. 25 n 29 31 fo %tfzcfovx$ %PXr§£bdt 35 iHUiiiiiiiinioiiiiiiwiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiimiuunuiiiiniuiiNiiiiuiiiiuuiiiiuiiiiiiiiiinininiiaiin EXLIBRIS HENRY VAN DYKE ^r^ 37 39 41 HB^X'UBRiUng FRANCIS vWILSOn I^ 43 45