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BOOKPLATES THE WORLD OF EX-LIBRIS |
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A historical retrospective 4 EX-LIBRIS: A THEMATIC APPROACH |
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4g EX-LIBRIS OF SOME INTERESTING PERSONALITIES 1700-1970 |
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4g/11. Aglaus Bouvenne (F, 1829-1904)  THéOPHILE
GAUTIER, C1, 73 x 68, 1872.
Viz GMN p. 201.
Gautier (1811-1872) remains a much read author of historical novels, such as Capitaine Fracasse (1863). Romantic poet, theoretician of ‘Art for Art’s sake’, literary critic and journalist, his ex-libris was made by Bouvenne, whose real name was Gustave and who specialised in historical monograms. Its design is based on Gautier’s novel, Le Roman de la Momie. |
4g/12. Eulogio Varela (E) ANTONIO CANOVAS DEL CASTILLO,
P1, 85 x 52, c.1880.
Born in 1828, Canovas was an eminent Spanish historian and statesman who was assassinated in 1897. His library contained more than 35,000 volumes. His bookplate, designed by Varela, was engraved by Stern of Paris, an important printing workshop founded in 1840. |
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4g/14. Dr. Robert Forrer (CH, 1866-1947) OTTO, FüRST VON
BISMARCK, X2/col., 108 x 66, 1898.
Viz. L-W p.437.
The Strasbourg-based artist Forrer made this dedication plate for the Prussian statesman Bismarck (1815-1898), Chancellor of Germany from 1871 to 1890 and founder of German unity. It seems that it was not used, as Bismarck died before receiving it. |
4g/13. Thomas Erat Harrison (GB, 1858-1917) WILLIAM
EWART GLADSTONE, P1, 104 x 77, 1889.
Viz. BNL #143.
An important artist and engraver, T. E. Harrison designed this ex-libris for the British politician and statesman Gladstone (1809- 1898), and it was reproduced by process block by A. & C. Dawson of the Typographic Etching Company. Gladstone was three times Prime Minister, from 1868 to 1874, 1880 to 1885, and 1892 to 1894. |
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4g/15. John Lockwood Kipling (GB, 1837-1911) RUDYARD
KIPLING, P1, 66 x 49, 1894.
Viz. BNL #162.
The father of the great poet and storyteller Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), John Lockwood Kipling, designed this ex-libris for his son. Architectural sculptor at the Bombay School of Art, curator of the Museum at Lahore and interior designer, J. L. Kipling made three other bookplates (one for himself and two for his grandchildren). Two versions of Rudyard Kipling’s plate exist: this one reads in the lower corners AD/18 94 JLK, and a later version K/19 09. The designs of both are similar, though the decoration of the later plate is somewhat improved. This earlier version is very scarce. |
4g/16. Ephraim Moises Lilien (D, 1874-1925) MAXIM
GORKI, L, 115 x 79, c.1903.
Viz. BPSJ, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp.77-78.
One of the eminent Art Nouveau graphic artists of his time, Lilien made many bookplates, several of which for Jewish bibliophiles. This fine composition was for the Russian author and father of Soviet social literature Maxim Gorki, whose real name was Alexei Maximovich Pechkov (1868-1936). |
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4g/17. ? (F) SARAH BERNHARDT, P1, 53 x 41, c.1900.
Viz GMN p. 34.
The celebrated French actress, whose real name was Rosine Bernard (1844-1923) used this charming ex-libris in her books, which some experts attribute to Alfons Mucha. Its motif is the same as she used as a letterhead on her writing paper, but with ‘ex libris’ added. This was probably done by another hand, as the lettering of the text is not quite the same as the motto and name. |
4g/18. William Phillips Barrett (GB, ?-1928)) CHARLES
STEWART ROLLS, C1, 100 x 74, 1906.
The precise designer of this plate is not known, as Barrett had a workshop which employed several artists and all the ex-libris produced were signed ‘W.P.B.’. The industrialist Rolls (1877-1910) became better known when he associated himself with Royce and started producing Rolls-Royce motor cars. |
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4g/19. Erich Büttner (D, 1889-1936) ALBERT EINSTEIN, P1,
77 x 84, 1917.
Büttner (see 3g/6) made this vision of man in the cosmos for the physicist Einstein in Berlin, in 1917. Einstein was also living there at the time, and it is very likely that the bookplate was the result of a direct contact between them. The precise circumstances, however, do not seem to be known. |
4g/20. Philip Tilden (GB, 1887-1956) IVOR NOVELLO, X2,
108 x 65, 1919.
Viz. BNL #186.
Tilden, although an architect by profession, decided during the difficult period of 1918-1919 to do something lucrative, and designed a few bookplates. Ivor Novello’s is characteristic of his style and talent. Novello (1893-1951), whose real name was David Ivor Davies, was a well-known composer, actor and theatre manager. |
4g21 - 4g32
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