The Bookplate Collection
Ex-librīs de Collectio
Bookplates, also known as ex-librīs [Latin for "from the library”] are labels that are affixed normally to the endpaper of a book and indicate the ownership of the book. They usually depict a motif or design, many with a heraldic theme to them; including arms, crests, mottos, badges, associated with the owner or the organizations with which they affiliate or hold membership. They have always been a great way to show evidence of the provenance of books. They were first developed in Germany as decorative woodcut engravings, which were stamped onto documents and books. We then see the popularity of bookplates flourish in France around the 17th century, and subsequently in England from the Georgian era to the late Victorian era. To date, it is common to open the front cover of an old used book and find a small square glued to the inside cover with a depiction and someone’s name who, at one time, owned the book. Bookplates are still produced today by a handful of heraldic bookplate artists around the world as both black & white drawings and color paintings. With the advancement in technology of printing, it is rare to find woodcut stamps as most are now digitally printed onto adhesive paper.
I would ask that you please not copy or save to your device, any of the bookplates found on this page.
Mr. Roderick Gordon Macpherson, CM, FRHSC
I have had the good fortune to be a personal friend of Gordon Macpherson for a number of years, and share his passion for heraldic bookplate design. In my early years of membership with the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, he was fundamental in providing me with knowledge and education on the subject to give me a better understanding of the more complex history. Then, during my own armorial bearing granting process, Gordon was someone I was able to bounce ideas off during the design phase. To that end, a large portion of my bookplate collection is in honour of this outstanding heraldic artist. I have been able to secure original copies of many of the bookplates he created over his long career. Here below are just a sample of the 120+ of Gordon’s bookplates that are within my collection.
Contemporary Bookplates By Various Artists
Vintage Bookplates
The earliest known example of an ex-librīs is that of Hilprand Brandenburg, a Carthusian (German) monk from 1480. I have endeavored to provide below a number of examples of earlier and more rare bookplates within my collection to give you an idea of the complexity and diversity of the images and symbols used within them.
Sir Mayson Moss Beaton, KBE (Civil) President of the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Co. Director of Timber Supplies, War Office 1914-19. (c. 1921)
Lieutenant General Sir James Adolphus Oughton, KB. Commander-in-Chief Scotland 1778-80 and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland 1769-71. (c.1770)
Sir Robert Laird Borden, GCMG, PC, KC 8th Prime Minister of Canada 1911-20.
(c. 1915)
John Conduitt, Esq. Master of the Mint 1727-37. (c. 1730)