Bookplate is a printed label pasted in a book as a mark of ownership. The label is sometimes called ex libris, which means from the library in Latin. Most bookplates are made of paper, but vellum, leather, and other materials are sometimes used. Early bookplates were engraved by hand. Modern bookplates are produced by mechanical processes (see Engraving). A simple label printed with the owner’s name and address makes a satisfactory, inexpensive bookplate.
The first bookplates were made in Germany sometime after 1475. They were often crude and colored by hand. The earliest known printed bookplate dates from about 1480. Albrecht Dürer designed the first dated bookplate in 1516 (see Dürer, Albrecht). For many years, a favorite bookplate subject was the coat of arms of the owner’s family. Later designs often represented the owner’s interests or occupation. English engravers made bookplates for Americans in the late 1700’s.
Many people collect bookplates and books containing bookplates. A number of great artists including Albrecht Dürer, Hans Holbein, and William Hogarth created bookplates. Modern artists who have designed bookplates include Leonard Baskin, Fritz Eichenberg, and Antonio Frasconi.
