A Review of The Bookplate Journal - March 2009

Reproduction of The Studio 1898-9

After delays caused by circumstances very much beyond their control, The Bookplate Society was ver pleased to be able to finally publish and deliver to their membership the long overdue March 2009 edition of the Bookplate Journal.  I am very pleased to report that it was well worth the wait.

Britain's Ex Libris Society was founded in 1891 during a period when interest in both design and collecting was steadily on the rise in Europe and North America.  One of its members, Gleeson White, founded and edited a journal named The Studio in 1893, and as a regular contributor still several years later he oversaw the production of a special issue in the winter of 1898-9 that examined modern bookplates and their designers.  This issue of the journal has reproduced the section on British bookplates in its entirety.

If you're an admirer of the Art Nouveau period then obtaining a copy of this issue is a must.  Beyond the biographies and catalogues the issue has reproduced nearly a hundred bookplate images from several of the leading designers of the period.  Whether your interest is books, history, at, form, or design, the issue offers a rewarding package of information for both collectors and general readers alike.  In addition to the reproductions, the issue contains a detailed catalogue and bibliography of White's writings, as well as other ancillary information relevant to the subject at hand.  All in all, this has been one of the most enjoyable issues of the The Bookplate Journal I've read so far and I highly recommend it to everyone interested in the hobby.