Newsworthy Bookplate Events/Liverpool Manure Company

CLICK On Image To Enlarge - Unusual English bookseller's trade card/bookplate recently purchased .Circa 1740 ,engraved by J. Haynes, York

This has nothing to do with bookplates but who can resist buying a blotter from the Liverpool Manure Company. My son Steven and I were at a paper show in London several years ago and this was one of my favorite purchases.

I look forward to receiving my copy of Fine Books & Collections every other month and make a point of reading it from cover to cover. The striking photo above is on page 4 of the March/April issue. The owner of this "permanent exlibris" writes " I am extremely passionate about books" and "reading, collecting, talking about,buying, and searching for books consumes my days"

http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/

Rochester New York

The University of Rochester Library is currently holding a bookplate exhibit. The department will be closed during parts of the summer because of construction so it would be best to call or write ahead to make an appointment. Here is the contact information:

Mary M. Huth

Assistant Head

Department of Rare Books and Special Collections

University of Rochester Library

Rochester N. Y. 14627-0055

Tel. 585 275 9338

Rarebks@library.rochester.edu

Http://www.rochester.edu/calendar/event?id=307733

Boston , Mass.

About 15 bookplate fans showed up for first bookplate society regional meeting.It is always a delight to meet with kindred spirits , some of whom I only knew by Ebay nicknames . The first two hours were spent getting acquainted and exchanging duplicates.

A similar meeting is scheduled for Portland Oregon in several months and as details are received they will be posted on the blog. You do not have to be a member to attend but if your enjoy the blog I would encourage you to join.

exlibrisusa@hotmail.com

http://www.bookplate.org/

If you plan to visit Boston here is the contact information for two booksellers who currently have a nice selection of bookplates for sale.

Tom Boss /Fine Books (the largest and most diverse bookplate inventory in the U.S.)

Tel 781 431 2037

info@bossbooks.com

The Book& Tackle Shop ( Currently has a world class collection of nautical bookplates)

Bernard L.Gordon

617 965 0459

bkandtac@aol.com

http://www.bookandtackle.com/

New York City

The New York Antiquarian Book Fair will be held April 20-22 at the Park Ave Armory.

Tom Boss (mentioned above) will be bringing a nice selection of 18th century American bookplates. At the same time , the Westside Book Loft show will take place so you will have a busy weekend finding treasures..

www.bookfairs.com/showlists.html

San Miguel de Allende,Guanajuato Mexico

From February 25-28 2009 an Inter American bookplate convention is being planned.Details are sketchy right now but stay tuned. I have every intention of attending and expect a significant turn out.

You 've Got To See This Site To Believe It.

Coudal Partners

Click on the link above.
Some very thoughtful people at Coudal Partners have scoured the Internet to list all sorts of unusual hobby related sites to amuse , and delight you while I am away on a bookplate safari.
Be prepared to be overwhelmed.

I will return on Sunday March 25th

Egyptian Cockroach Spell/ Boston Meeting

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People often ask me how many bookplates I have and my stock answer is, ALOT.
I am not trying to be secretive or coy . It just seems like a waste of time to count bookplates. Having said that , I know that I have 29 bookplates with Egyptian symbols or motifs.One of them is not shown as I know the owner is alive and I want to get his permission before posting it .
During the 1920s there was an Egyptian revival in the decorative arts and it is reflected in some of these plates. I know something about several of the owners and artists shown and will add information throughout the week. If you recognize an owner's name and wish to send me some biographical or background information I would be most appreciative.My email address is Bookplatemaven@hotmail.com

BOSTON MEETING
On Saturday March 24th the American Bookplate Society will have an open meeting at the Boston Public Library , 700 Boylston St. , Mezzanine Conference Room.
It will begin at 10:30 A.M. When I was in Tucson last week Jim Keenan gave me a brief overview of his talk about the storage, display and presentation of bookplates. If you collect any sort of small ephemeral items you will find his talk to be most helpful. Bring along any bookplates you want to sell , trade or show us.

King Farouk used the green bookplate shown above. It is not currently in my collection but I am on a quest to obtain one. In pursuit of the bookplate I called John William Pye, a bookseller whose specialty is Egypt. In the course of the conversation I recalled an impulse item which I purchased from him several years ago. How can you resist a ceramic trivet with an ancient Egyptian spell to drive away cockroaches. He still has one or two left so if you want one he can be reached at Pyebooks@tiac.net

Mr. Evert Veldhuizen (with friendly greetings from the Netherlands) was kind enough to write me about a well illustrated book in German on the subject of bookplates with an Egyptian theme. It is Aegypten im Exlibris by Dr.Gernot Blum. I have just ordered a copy on line at www.abebooks.com and there are three or four copies still available.

Click On Images To Enlarge

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Another Fake George Washington Bookplate

Click on Image to Enlarge The bookplate illustrated above was created for an auction held in Washington around 1863. It is such a poorly executed fake that it should not fool anyone who takes a moment to study and examine it. The lettering is amateurish , it is not on laid paper and the burin mark discussed in yesterday's posting in missing.
A more detailed history of this plate can be seen on pages 93-5 in Charles Dexter Allen's American Bookplates.

As I said in yesterday's posting if you are offered a "Genuine Original" George Washington bookplate , be on guard , it is probably a fake.

Washington's Bookplate, Let The Buyer Beware

Re strike Above Click on Image to Enlarge

If you are offered a "genuine original " bookplate from George Washington's library be very skeptical . Here are some simple rules to follow when examining such plates.Hold the plate up to the light and see if the paper has chain-lines. If it does not then it is not an original plate from Washington's library.In the illustration above a genuine plate has been back lighted and enlarged so that you can see the 18th century paper more clearly.

The copper engraving plate for Washington's exlibris was passed on to descendants and they pulled restrikes for friends .The restrikes are desirable since an original may not come your way for a while. I have scanned a clear image of a restrike .

If you look at it you will see another important distinguishing feature. I inserted a colored arrow pointing to it and I have also circled it. When George Washington's plate was made the engraver's burin slipped and made a small line. If that line is not visible the plate you are being offered is a fake.

Sunday, This Must be Phoenix

Good Morning- I am out on a bookplate hunt in sunny Arizona and will be back in Philadelphia on Tuesday , at which time I will write about fake George Washington bookplates .
I am not a sports jacket wearer but since this trip was part business I wore my favorite one. It is a bold plaid and perhaps it makes me look like a used car salesman. In any event, yesterday I was in a taxi cab and the driver asked me what I did for a living. I told him I was a salesman and he said , " I thought you was a pimp" I laughed at the time but now I am not so sure it was so funny.
Any pimps out there who want to buy a slightly used sports jacket?
See you on Tuesday.

Washington BookShow / Library of Congress

Several weeks ago I wrote about airplanes on bookplates.Here are two additional images which were omitted. Curtis -Wright Corporation was the manufacturer of the P40 Warhawk during the second world war and Eric Henning Nelson was a pilot who in 1924 flew a Douglas DWC-2 cruiser around the world. If you have additional images of airplane bookplates ,please send a scan and they will be included in a future posting.

Click On Images To Enlarge

Click on Image to Enlarge

I just got back from Washington DC. . The trip began with a tour of the Library Of Congress bookplate collection which had been arranged by fellow collector Dr. James M.Goode. If you would like to see the collection , arrangements can be made through Sara Duke, The Curator Of Applied Graphic Art. Her contact information is as follows: Sduk@loc.gov . A word of caution, the collection is quite large and you need to be very specific about the artist(s) or type of bookplates you wish to see.The image shown above is a souvenir bookmark of senate pages , in a gentler time,having a snowball fight on the Capitol plaza .

The Library of Congress has digitized thousands of historic and cultural images for your research and enjoyment. They run the gamut from baseball cards to the civil war. It is worth a visit and you will probably bookmark the site.

Http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/catalog.html

At the book show and elsewhere , I purchased three unique items as follows:

An 1894 proof signed by E. D. French ( the engraver ) inviting Samuel W.Avery to the opening ceremonies of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.This item came from the Bella Landauer collection formed in the 1920's and is exceedingly rare.

A signed proof by the English engraver C. W. Sherborne done for Francis Folsom Cleveland.I only know of two other presidential wives who had their own bookplates, Eleanor Roosevelt and Jackie Kennedy.One would assume that Laura Bush might have a bookplate, having a library background but it is my understanding that she does not use one.

An Islamic bookplate which I would love to have translated. If someone out in cyber space can assist me I would be most appreciative.

I have a few more airplane images to add from a previous posting and will do so before the day is over.That's all for this week. My surprise retirement party is coming up and I will also be heading out to Arizona for a few days. If you are in Arizona and have bookplates to sell or trade please let me hear from you. I can be reached at Bookplatemaven@hotmail.com

California Bookplates/Maynard Dixon/Cecil B. DeMille

Many years ago I collected ceramic tiles and was drawn to art pottery and tiles by California artists. It was primarily the muted colors that fascinated me. There is something about the light in California that makes colors appear more vibrant. I thought about this recently when I purchased the R.F.McGraw bookplate by Maynard Dixon.

If you want to learn more about Maynard Dixon and the history of California bookplates there is an excellent new book published by the Book Club of California called California Bookplates . It is quite informative and well illustrated. The book costs $35.00 and is can be ordered directly by calling 800 869 7656 If you are outside the United States the Email contact is info@BBCBOOKS.ORG
Buy the book, you will not be disappointed.

Speaking of California, I woke up at 4 A.M. the other night and was drawn to the computer by some mystical force.The next thing I remember was looking at a "Buy It Now " listing on Ebay and thinking that I have been drawn to these objects by some divine intervention. How could I not get these ephemeral Cecil B. DeMille items . The bookplate is illustrated on page 233 of Historic California in Bookplates by Clare Ryan Talbot. That's another book you may want to consider purchasing.It was reprinted several years ago and you can get copies on ABE for under $20.00 . Mr. De Mille sent Christmas cards to friends that related to his films.

During the filming of The Ten Commandments critics were predicting the expensive film would be a turkey and that became the inspiration for the sphinx. The card was designed by Bruce Dussell.

That's all for now. I do have more airplane images and will post them next week when I return from the Washington Book show(March 2 & 3) at the Holiday Inn in Rosslyn , Virginia .

If you are in the Capitol area and have bookplates to sell or exchange , I would love to hear from you. My contact info. is Bookplatemaven@hotmail.com

Gallery of Sacker's Bookplates/

Gallery of Sachttp://link.ixs1.net/s/ve?eli=s112986&si=q98404255&cfc=3htmlker's Bookplates

This may be a bit confusing because I have not mastered all that I need to know about links, but it should work. There are two links shown above.. One is about Amy Sacker, who was much more than a bookplate designer. It was created by Mark Schumacher, a reference librarian at the University of Carolina , Greensboro.It is excellently crafted and quite informative.

To the editors of ALA Direct , thank you for the kind words about my blog in your most recent issue. I have linked to your newsletter because most of the topics covered are newsworthy and of interest .

I also want to thank Kier Graff whose blog booklistonline is well worth a visit. The URL is
http://blog.booklistonline.com/

On Sunday,February 25th, I will be adding some more airplane images along with a newly acquired bookplate by Maynard Dixon. See you then.

Airplanes on Bookplates

Hugh Oswald Short was one of the founders of Short Brothers PLC. , the world's first aviation company.His bookplate was designed by Kenneth Hobson
I purchased the May W. Wise plate in England several years ago.It was done in 1926 by a French illustrator , E.Wiralt . This one has everything, a car, a boat ,a ship, a blimp., someone walking and someone on horseback.
Alfred S. Niles (1894-1975) was an author and professor of aeronautic engineering at the Guggenheim Aeronautic Laboratory of Stanford University.I do not know anything about P.W. Lawrence. Click on images to enlarge

I believe, but am not absolutely certain that this engraved bookplate was used by Carl Fisher , the Florida land developer.

Sidney Lawton Smith engraved this bookplate for Amy Bend Bishop in 1909.Click on the image to enlarge and see why S.L. Smith is considered one of the foremost American bookplate designers in the early twentieth century. When I starting researching Amy Bend Bishop, I came away with the clear understanding that she was well bred, and very very wealthy.Beyond that ,some refer to her as a great humanitarian and some refer to her as a virulent bigot. Maybe she was both. One thing is certain she had one of the nicest bookplates Mr. Smith designed. I suspect it is quite rare as I have only seen two in twenty five years.

About twenty years ago Bruce Dey sent me this very striking bookplate which he designed for his own use.

Harold F. Pitcairn (1897-1960) was an American aircraft pioneer who designed and manufactured Auto Giro Rotocraft. He also founded Eastern Airlines. His bookplate was designed by J.E. Caldwell & Co. of Philadelphia.

Earle L. Ovington was the first U.S. airmail pilot.

This posting will be expanded as I have many more images. As always , I encourage active participation from readers like yourself. If you have a bookplate image to share please send it to Bookplatemaven at Hotmail dot com.

Another Great Video/

YouTube - Introducing the book
CLICK ON THE WORDS ABOVE TO SEE THE VIDEO
Here is an enjoyable book related video ,that is making the rounds .I know it has been on several blogs already and I spotted it on a February 13th posting at Books Words and Writing
Http://amynelsonmile.net/booksblog/
The premise is simple , a scholar who works with scrolls is confronted and overwhelmed by radical new technology called the bound book. The video deserves some sort of award.

Bookplate Removal Video from YOU TUBE

bookplate removal - Google Video CLICK ON UNDERLINED TITLE ON LEFT

I did not expect to write anything today but I revisited this excellent video clip from You Tube and thought it would be of great interest . If you check my archives for June 2006 you will also find my written instructions for a speedier bookplate removal.

More Science Fiction/ Odds and Ends

Mahlon Blaine probably did more than one bookplate, but the only one I have is in my "celebrity"bookplate collection. If you click on the image to enlarge it you should be able to see more details.Joseph Dunninger (1892-1975). was an accomplished magician and psychic performer who was very popular in the 1940's and 50's.
In fact, I remember listening to his radio show when I was about twelve years old.
Here is a link that , if it works, will give you biographical information about Dunninger.
Http://www.randi.org/encyclopedia/Dunninger,%20Joseph.html

George Barr, an established SF illustrator wrote to me several years ago and mentioned that he had done several bookplates for clients but kept no copies. Here are two I know about.The one on the left was done in 1968 for his own books and the one on the right was a universal plate done in 1972. From time to time I see the universal plate offered on Ebay .The original drawing for his own exlibris was later painted in watercolor and sold.

Helen Clarke , Head Collection Services and Electronic Resources Librarian at the University of Calgary sent me the Oswald Train bookplate image with the following notation"Oswald Train was a fan, minor author,one of the founders of a SF small press called Prime Press " Thank you , Mrs. Clarke for your thoughtfulness.
The bookplate for The Joseph Campbell Hospital shown at the top, falls into the "odds and ends" category.It arrived in this morning's mail and was purchased on Ebay last week. I bought it because it puzzled me and I thought there was an outside chance that it was 18th century American. It is, in fact, English and the Frank's identification # is 5013

More Odds and Ends- The Manuscript Society will hold a meeting in Philadelphia on Saturday February 24th. The topics of to be discussed after lunch are Bela Bartok letters and a Babe Ruth encounter. Reservations for the presentation and three course brunch ($30.00) can be made by contacting Barton Smith ksmith3685@aol.com (tel. 610 678 8030)

Speaking of meetings, if you can get to Boston , Mass. on Saturday March 24 th you are invited to a meeting of the American Bookplate Society to be held at the Boston Public Library , starting at 10:30 A.M. There is no charge for this event and Jim Keenan will give a brief presentation about displaying, storing and preserving bookplates. There will be time set aside for exchanging duplicates with other collectors and learning more about bookplates , in general. I hope you will join us.

That's about all for this week, I jumped the gun and published a day earlier than usual. See you next week

Science Fiction/ What ever happened to Stuie Steinkritz ?

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
I do not know for certain that each and every one of this group are for science fiction collectors.The Algot Erikson bookplate was done in Sweden in 1940 .The Vepstas bookplate has a comic book theme.It was designed by Henrietta Vepstas for her brother.The Morehouse bookplate amuses me so I included it.
The Sallume plate was designed for Antioch Bookplate by Ed Emsh.

I do not know if Ray Bradbury uses a bookplate in his own books.When I wrote to him in 2001 and asked him to send me his own bookplate , this is what he sent.I have a very special fondness for Ray Bradbury as he was the very first Science fiction writer I recall reading.Taking a trip down memory lane I also recall a fellow student in my public school in Brooklyn, whose name was Stuart Steinkritz ? He was, as I recall a nephew of Leslie Nielson , the actor. Using a pen name, he actually got published in one of the Science Fiction pulp magazines.I think that's pretty impressive for a 12 year old.
Although I can't be sure about the exact spelling of his last name I do recall the acronym he taught me B.E. M. (Bugged Eyed Monsters)
The late John Brunner used a bookplate designed by Jim Barker.The designer's name is hard to make out but you can click on the image for enlargement. Porcupine books in England
websales@porcupine.demon.co.uk has a number of books from Mr. Brunner's library with his bookplate, priced at $20.00 + They are nice people to deal with.
Edgar Rice Burroughs' bookplate does not come up for sale very often.About ten years ago, I tracked down his grandson and was able to purchase my copy from him. If a copy is offered to you from a reputable source, buy it.
Arthur C. Clarke's bookplates show up from time to time on Ebay. They seem to sell in the $25.00 + range.
L.Sprague de Camp used this very distinctive triangular bookplate.I purchased it from Tom Boss, a bookseller in Wellesley , Mass. several years ago.He may possibly have more copies.
Harlan Ellison uses a bookplate printed at Gnome press from a design by Ed Cartier.The late Andre Norton used a similar bookplate.
H.P.Lovecraft- A word of caution if offered an association copy with a Lovecraft bookplate. Mr. Lovecraft's cousin ,Wilfred B. Talman originally designed the bookplate. Several years ago The Necronomicon Press reproduced the plate and distributed it.I see them from time to time on Ebay. There is no easy way that I know of to distinguish these reproductions from the originals. Let the buyer beware.
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
It is Monday February 5th. I had hoped to complete this posting yesterday but real life interfered. I want to thank all of you who participated in my Ebay bookplate auction.The bidding was frantic and 24 of the 25 items listed were sold. I think this blog contributed to the many new bidders who participated. I plan to have my next bookplate auction sometime in March.If you would like to be notified just send me an Email :
Bookplatemaven@hotmail.com






H.G.Wells- He had at least two bookplates.The one he definitely used is item #44 in London Bookplates by Brian North Lee "From the library of H.G.Wells at 13 Hanover Terrace Regent's Park London (with facsimile signature). Label within an ornamental border"

The one illustrated above is from my collection and was designed by Robert Saldo. I do not know is whether the Saldo plate was ever affixed to any books in H.G. Wells' library.Some bookplate designers created "honorarium " plates without the knowledge or consent of the owner. It gave them a certain amount of prestige to claim they had designed a bookplate for a well known person. As can be seen from the Saldo advertisement, he promoted the fact that several celebrities of the 1930's were his clients.

A final note-This has nothing to do with the science fiction theme. Quite by chance I discovered several interesting bookplate groups on the Flickr photo sharing site.If you click on the words Science Fiction in the title, at the beginning of this posting it will lead you to the Flickr search engine.
See you next week.