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ex-libris THE WORLD OF EX-LIBRIS |
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A historical retrospective 1 EARLY PRINTED EX-LIBRIS 1470-1700 |
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OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES 1580-1700 Other European countries also developed a fashion for marks of possession of books, in various ways. In the North-East, the influence of German ex-libris can be felt, and some early and beautiful pieces are to be found, although they are numerically fewer and sometimes stylistically less sophisticated. The same can be said of the North-West, although the appearence of several great engravers in the Netherlands and Belgium in the late 17th century led to more widespread use of bookplates in the 18th century than in Eastern Europe. In the South (Italy, Spain, Portugal), as we have seen in France and Britain, supralibros and book-labels were widespread, and ex-libris were never as common as in Central or Northern Europe. Another factor is reference documentation: though standard registers and many books exist on German, Swiss, French, British, Nordic, Italian and Spanish bookplates, no substantial systematic studies exist as to the rest of Europe. This makes both collecting and research more difficult. |
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1f/1. ? (D/CZ)  MICHAL SPANOVSKY Z LISOVA, X1, 140 x 112,
c.1580.
A member of one of the important Czech baronial families, Michal Spanovsky was Pronotary to the Czech crown from 1575 to 1595. Its decorative cartouche is strongly influenced by late 16th century German style. |
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1f/2. ? (D/NL) MAES, C2, 135 x 92, 1660.
Viz. Quantin p. 113.
A typical late 17th century plate for a Flemish family, which– though its cartouche has an uncharacteristic shape - could nearly be mistaken for German. |
1f/3. ? (B) CHARLES ROBERT TSERWOUTERS, C2, 155 x 108,
1686.
Only the slightly florid inscription and the curious placing of the crest on the helms would give away this plate as not being German. But again, within the German-speaking area of Europe, there were always exceptions to the dominant style. The inscription tells us that the owner was Bailiff of the town of Ghent. |
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1f/4. ? Brunelier (?B) ZYBERTS, C2, 192 x 47, c.1700.
One can legitimately hesitate to decide where to classify this ex-libris, but as it is a beautiful example of baroque style, it would be a pity to omit it. It is not registered in Warnecke, and the name sounds more Flemish than German. However, more research remains to be done. |
1f/5. ? (I) BARNABO DE FOLIGNO, X1, 134 x 89, c.1650.
Gelli p. 35, ill. No. 111. A charming heraldic plate, as the design shows a helm, short mantle and crest. Many prints of this ex-libris have a coarse monogram ‘AB’ below, added by Cardinal Alessandro Barnabo (1801-1875). |
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1f/6. ? (I) FELIX CENTINI, X1/2, 69 x 70, c.1620.
Fortunately, an inscription by de Rozières under the ex-libris, from whose collection this piece came, tells us that the owner was born in Ascoli and was Advocate-General of the Order of Franciscan Minors, created in 1611 by Pope Paul V. He was Cardinal by title of St. Hieronymus of the Illyrians, then of St. Laurent and St. Anastasia, and Bishop of Maunata, Tolentino and Sabine. He died in 1641. It seems that the ex-libris consisted of his arms, and that the hat, cords and tassels of prelate are a chablon-stamp addition, perhaps so they could be in the appropriate colour, which for his rank was red. |
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1f/7. ? (I) ODETTI DI MARCORENGO, C2, 88 x 66, c.1690.
Gelli p. 286. This plate probably belonged to Jacopo Odetti, celebrated jurist and professor at the University of Pavia. |
1f/8. ? (I) CORNARO, C2, 198 x 159, c.1700.
Gelli p. 123, ill. No. 147. It is fairly certain that this ex-libris belonged to Doge Francesco Cornaro of Venice (*1656), although Gelli points out that it might be for a later member of the family. It also exists in at least one smaller size. |
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1f/9. Josef Werner (CH, 1637-1710) & Elias Hainzelmann
(D, 1640-1693) GIOVANNI ANDREA GUIDOTTI, C3 + C2,
199 x 143, c.1690.
This large and beautiful ex-libris is exceptional in many ways. Firstly, it was commissioned by an Italian from Lucca, designed by a Swiss and engraved by a German, a reminder that even three hundred years ago, travel was common and international contacts as well. Also, it is stylistically very precocious for its time. |
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1f/10. ? (E) LUIS DE MONCADA ARAGÓN, LUNA Y CARDONA, C2,
ø 63, c.1665.
An early seal-shaped armorial, with a fine example of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The owner was Prince Paterno and Duke of Montalto. |
1f/11. ? (E) CIDES, C2, 135 x 112, c.1700. Vindel 272.
A rare ex-libris for the family of the Cids, who were – as the ex-libris notes – knights and Infants of Spain. The fourth quarter of the arms shows blindfolded severed Moorish heads, a reminder of Spanish history. |
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1f/12. G. Bonasi (I) + Scottus (?GB/I) DUQUE DE LA CERDA
MEDINA CELI, C2, 200 x 157, c.1700.
Despite having been made for a member of one of Spain’s great ducal families, this ex-libris – and its use as such is beyond doubt – it is not recorded in Vindel. This might be due to the fact that it was designed by an Italian artist and engraved by ‘Scottus’, a name which might indicate a British or Italian artist. It is in heavy baroque style, characteristic of the south European decorative tendancy. |
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1f/13. C.B. (E/P) LUIS JOSEPH DE VASCONCELLOS, C2,
163 x 112, c.1700.
Vindel 889.This ornate ex-libris was made for a member of a family which has important branches both in Spain and Portugal. |
1f/14. ? (ARG) BIBL. UNIV. DE CORDOBA, T, 40 x 73, c.1690.
This simple book label is for the University of Cordoba in Argentina, not Spain, and is the earliest known Latin-American ex-libris. |
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