The Bookplate Journal - Spring 2012 Reprint

Spring 2012 - Reprint

Earlier this summer members of the Bookplate Society received a replacement copy of their spring 2012 journal as a result of printing errors in the original edition.  The following caveat was posted on the Bookplate Society Website:

Members please note that we discovered that some copies were defective. This issue was mailed direct to members by our printers, who have apologised for, and have rectified, the error. In some copies (we think about half of those sent out) there are pages where the paper is tinted cream and is glossy on one side, but is white and matt on the other.
In mid-August we sent to ALL members a reprinted journal, together with our Summer Newsletter. Please now destroy your copy of the earlier issue.

Needless to say this was a very thoughtful gesture and speaks highly of the bookplate's society commitment to bringing its members the best possible journal on the subject.  For those non-members who may be acquiring an individual copy by means other than through subscription, you'll know you have a corrected version if the word reprint appears on the last page of the journal.  Until next time...

Bookplate Society News - Summer 2012

Vol.34 No.1 Summer 2012

Nothing like a new addition to the family and the completion of an academic manuscript to deplete one's time for a hobby.  Happily, the book is finally done and life is returning to normal after a great summer away from the keyboards.  I was sifting through my pile of bookplate related material sitting on a corner of the study desk and since it's a quiet rainy Sunday, it seems like a good time to finally post an update or two.

First on the pile is the latest Bookplate Society newsletter.  This issue includes a great little article by Bryan Welch titled, "On the identification of bookplates", which offers some preliminary guidance on how to go about researching your ex libris.  Welch briefly outlines what might constitute intrinsic and extrinsic evidence for the identification of a bookplate, as well as how this evidence may be clarified or confused depending on how it is derived.  Though he doesn't specifically say it, Welch's article does infer that provenance can play a big role in determining the owner and/or designer of a bookplate.

Other news includes a panegyric to the British designer Reg Boulton (1923-2012), who created many interesting bookplates for the Hereford region.  Other news items include the society's annual report as well as the catalogue for Auction 66.  Additionally, there are the usual notes on online auctions and other sales, member's news, library news, and book reviews.  All in all it's a great update with something for everyone.  Until next time...

Review - Ray Safford: Rare Bookman

Exhibiting 15 Feb - 13 April 2012

Last post I mentioned that a review of this book appearing in the Spring 2012 issue of the Bookplate Journal prompted me to order a copy from Oak Knoll Press, and I am pleased to say the decision to do so did not disappoint.  Authored by Mark D. Tomasko, this short biography and catalogue of the life and artifacts of Scribner's bookseller Ray J. Safford (1866-1930) offers a tremendously interesting insight to the world of books, bookplates, dealers and collectors during the Golden Age of rare book and literary buying and selling in America.

Ray Safford, avid collector, buyer and seller, was considered one of the United States' most knowledgeable subject matter experts in the book trade at the turn of the last century.  Employed by Scribners for nearly four decades, he rose to become head of the retail department where he was both witness and party to several landmark book sales.  This included the sale of a Shakespeare First Folio in 1903 among other things.  Safford's life was also enriched by the many people he came into contact with, as well as the many friends he made over the course of his long and distinguished career.  He was good friends with Frank Nelson Doubleday, for example, the legendary publisher.

In addition to a short biography, the book includes a catalogue of Safford's papers, photos, and ephemera in the private archive of the author, as well as elaborations on some of the highlights of his career.  The book itself, as one can expect from Oak Knoll, is superbly designed and produced.  Soft cover, 6x9, and perfect bound (stitched), the 84-page volume includes many sepia toned and full colour illustrations of book covers, bookplates, and portraits.  Very reasonably priced at $15, this is a worthy addition to any private library.

This month has been devoted mainly to reviews of new bookplate related literature, and not so much about bookplates themselves.  My apologies for this, but a good collection or interest deserves a good reference library to explore it further, so I want to give relevant books and journals some attention to.  Until next time...

   

The Bookplate Journal - Spring 2012

Spring 2012 Issue

The Spring 2012 edition of the The Bookplate Journal arrived this past week and as usual it is jammed with an excellent variety of articles, research notes, items of interest, illustrations, and reviews.

Volume 10 No.1 of the new series features five excellent articles covering a wide range of topics.  Bryan Welch has written an insightful piece on 'Mary Watt's bookplate for her Husband', while his shorter piece on Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, is similarly gripping.  Jim McCready's homage to the work of Daniel de Bruin (1950-2010) is both informative and touching.  Meanwhile the articles by Benoit Junod and W.E. Butler reveal the interesting and often overlooked fringes of the traditional bookplate world.

The remainder of the journal is stuffed with research notes and reviews covering topics too numerous to list here.  However, one item I will mention specifically is the review of Mark Tomasko's recent book on 'Ray Safford: Rare Bookman' by W.E. Butler.  I found this review exceptionally informative, and have subsequently ordered the book from Oak Knoll Press for my private library as a result.  I am grateful to W.E. Butler, and the Bookplate Society, for including such reviews in the the journal.

The Bookplate Journal is published twice a year in the spring and autumn, as is available to all subscribed members of the society.  A tremendous resource for book and ex libris historians, researchers, and collectors, I highly recommend this publication for your private library.  Please take a moment to check out the society and its publications.  Now back to reading the journal.  Until next time....

The Bookplates of Miss C. Helard

ISBN 978-0-9555428-2-4

Authored and compiled by Colin R. Lattimore, this year's extra offering to members of The Bookplate Society is a wonderfully illustrated book examining the bookplates of Miss C. Helard and other related matters.

Mary Ellen Blanche Crookes (1870-1935) aka, Miss C. Helard, was the wife of Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, a noted Edwardian lawyer, author, and expert on heraldry.  When the library of his estate came onto the market in the late 1970s, the author was able to acquire a substantial archive of material that, combined with other research into the history of this family, culminated in this impressive work.

As the author explains, C. Helard was 'born' in 1895 as the pseudonym that Crookes used for her heraldic drawings and bookplate designs.  Why exactly she chose this name remains something of a mystery, but her portfolio of work as C. Helard was impressive.  The author has meticulously catalogued all known examples of her work, and has reproduced in superb quality many illustrations of her ex libris in this book.

The book itself is softcover, approx. 8 1/2 x 11; 135pgs; illus; biblio; index; and limited to an edition of 450 copies.  Well-researched, very readable, and beautifully illustrated throughout, this book will make yet another great addition to the private libraries of bookplate collectors and historians.  I highly recommend that you visit The Bookplate Society's website and get a copy, or better still, consider joining the society and receive both the journal as well as access to many other books like this.  Until next time...

More Miscellaneous Ex Libris

Bookplates are here!

Since tomorrow is the first day in May (already - where does the time go?), I thought I might do some small justice to my blogging in April by just sharing a bunch more miscellaneous ex libris related things I've come across this past month, in no particular order.

First on the list are some lists.  Specifically, the first one recently published onto the web by the Art Gallery of Ontario's E.P. Taylor Research Library and Archives.  It seems they have a small Canadian bookplates collection that one can explore further with the assistance of this Finding Aid.  At quick glance it looks as if they have a few interesting items that I'll have to try and see the next time I'm there.  The second one is a Finding Aid for the Hugh Anson-Cartwright Collection donated to the MacKimmie Library at the University of Calgary.

Over on the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada website there is a page dedicated to the Ex Libris work of Gordon Macpherson.    A well-known Canadian Herald Extraordinary who has designed many great arms and seals for his country, he is noted especially for his armourial ex libris and is highly sought after for this work.  At left is but one sample of Macpherson's highly skilled designs.

A few particular ex libris of interest were also brought to my attention.  For example, this eighteenth century bookplate belonged to Sir John Caldwell (1775-1842), a Canadian Lawyer who was elected to the legislative assembly of Lower Canada and served as its Receiver General from 1810-1823.  Apparently, in 1824 a scandal came to light that his office had misappropriated and "misplaced" $100,000.  Despite the scandal Caldwell was never brought to trial, and he died many years later at St.Mathews, Quebec.  History and rumour has it he was horribly underpaid yet led a rich and extravagant life...










Well, I think that's it for April.  I originally thought I'd have more to blog about this past month, but my last two book and bookplate hunting trips turned up nothing of note, and it's been a little while since I've added anything new to the collection.  Still, some new literature has arrived and I have tales of yet another book hunting adventure, but I'll save these for May.  I want to get this posted before the clock strikes twelve!  Until next time...

Miscellaneous Ex Libris

Bookplate Blog Book 2011

It's already mid-April and I've yet to blog anything here!  As summer approaches I find myself wanting to get away from the keyboard more often, but that said I will try my best to blog at least once every week or so depending on what new finds come my way.

After my last post I had a couple of further inquiries regarding what I thought of making a bookplate blog book, as well as a few requests for a photo, so here's what the final product looks like.  As you can see, for the price it's a pretty decent hardcover publication.  I chose the arts and letters club bookplate to illustrate the cover simply because I liked it, but hopefully next year's book will sport my own new ex libris on the front.

Speaking of previous posts, since my blog on Ex Libris place names I've continued to explore this aspect of bookplates with some interesting results.  Looking through various collections for bookplates associated with the city of Toronto, for example, turned up a number of fascinating illustrations.  Here's a few of the one's I found particularly interesting:

 

 

As I was searching, I also noted the absence of certain place names in many of the collections.  I haven't seen very many bookplates for places in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or the territories.  Surely someone living in the Yukon had a bookplate made?  For now the hunt continues, until next time...