Dear Lew Jaffe,
My nephew, suggested that I get in touch with you. He says you may be one of the few people in the world able to answer my questions on a particular book plate.
The book plate in question is the personal book plate of Bishop Philip R. McDevitt when he was Bishop of Harrisburg.
I am always pleased to assist readers .Unfortunately, heraldry is not one of my strengths
Perhaps one of you can assist Dr. Rempe.
Please respond directly to him.
His email is rhrempe@comcast.net
BOOK PLATE
EXPLANATION OF BOOK PLATE
The pioneer Conestoga wagon moving up-state through
the diocese of Harrisburg into the wilderness, the modest
school, and the more becoming house of prayer that grad-
ually followed, adumbrate and symbolize the historical,
scholastic, and church leanings and tastes in books and
reading which a Bishop should manifest.
The quotation is from the beloved Philobiblon, chapter XV
by Richard Aungerville (Richard de Bury): “You, O
Books are golden vessels of the temple, the arms of the
clerical militia with which the missels of the most wicked
are destroyed: fruitfull olives, vines of Engaddi, fig trees
knowing no sterility: burning lamps to be ever held in the
hand.”
The lamps that are kept burning suggest the “aptate
lampades” of the Catholic Girls’ High School, Philadelphia.
I was a member of the faculty of Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg, PA for some 44 years and never realized that the shield shown on the book plate was the official seal of the high school, when it was Harrisburg Catholic High School and when it was re-named as Bishop McDevitt High School. Said shield is NOT taken from Bishop Philip's episcopal arms, but seems to be a portion (about one-third of the bottom part) taken from his book plate:
TAKEN FROM FROM THE PERSONAL BOOK PLATE:
THE SCHOOL SEAL:
THE EPISCOPAL ARMS OF BISHOP PHILIP R. MCDEVITT, AS BISHOP OF HARRISBURG:
I seek the answers to many questions , especially the following questions:
1. Who do you think may be the artist or etcher for the bishop's book plate? Could it have been Pierre de Chaignon la Rose? (la Rose is most probably the originator of the episcopal and Diocesan arms).
2. Do you know what the bishop used as his symbolism for his book plate?
3. Why did he use part of his book plate for the seal of the high school which would later bear his name?
Thank you for any help,
I remain,
Sincerely yours,
Robert H. Rempe, Ph. D.
