American Book-Plates

In the “Boston Evening Post,” for March 4, 1745, the following advertisement appears: —

“Francis Garden, Engraver from London, engraves in the newest Manner and at the cheapest Rates, Coats-of-Arms, Crests or Cyphers on Gold, Silver, Pewter or Copper. To be heard of at Mr. Caverley’s, Distiller, at the South End of Boston. N.B. He will wait on any Person in Town or Country, to do their Work at their own House, if desired: also copper-plate printing perform’d by him.”

No signed example of this gentleman’s work has thus far come to our knowledge. It is fair to presume, however, that he engraved book-plates.

A LIST OF EARLY AMERICAN

BOOK-PLATES

The following List of Early American Book-plates makes no claim to completeness: indeed it is earnestly hoped and believed that time will prove it to be quite incomplete: old plates new to collectors are continually coming to light, and there is every reason to expect their number to increase. We are persuaded that certain of the worthies of colonial times used book-plates, although no copies are now known, and that some future investigator will unearth these much-desired treasures.

Some plates will be found included which do not have a satisfactory description: this is due to their not being seen by the compiler of the List: correspondents at a distance cannot always send full details, and without them it is better to attempt little in the way of description. The aim has been to be accurate and as full as possible. There are hundreds of simple name-labels which have no place here, but all armorial examples which could be discovered are mentioned.

The plates are given in alphabetical order, and are numbered for convenience in reference. As far as possible, the first line of the description of each plate gives the exact wording of the original, with its spelling and abbreviations: the mottoes also, as well as the manner of signature, are given exactly as they appear on the original plate: wherever throughout this List italics are used, they denote the exact language employed upon the plate.

1. Anonymous.

Armorial. A very beautiful plate with French arms: a crown above and military trophies behind the shield: French banners, cannon, quivers of arrows, anchor, horns, swords, drum, tomahawks, bugle, lances, etc. Signed, Maingot delt. Maverick, Sct.

2. Abercrombie. James Abercrombie.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Two mottoes, Vive ut vivas, and Meus in arduis aequa. Of Philadelphia, and mentioned in Boswell’s “Life of Dr. Johnson.”

3. Adams. John Adams.

Armorial. The Boylston arms. The shield surrounded by a garter on which the motto is given, —Libertatem amicitiam retenebis et fidem. The whole design surrounded by thirteen stars. Second President of the United States.

4. Adams. John Quincy Adams.

Simply the name rudely engraved and surrounded by a narrow line. Probably the first of the J. Q. A. book-plates. Sixth President of the United States.

5. Adams. John Quincy Adams.

Armorial. Boylston arms. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto-ribbon empty.

6. Adams. John Quincy Adams.

Armorial. The Boylston arms; the shield enclosed within a garter, on which the motto appears, —Fidem – Libertatem – Amicitiam.

7. Adams. John Quincy Adams.

Armorial. The shield is quartered, and bears in the first quarter a curious specimen of home-made heraldry. The ancestors of the President bore no arms, and in their place appears a stag standing at gaze before a pine tree, while below in the water a fish, probably a cod, is swimming; the whole design surrounded with thirteen stars. This was his own invention. The other quarters bear the Smith, Quincy, and Boylston arms. The whole shield is surrounded by a garter bearing the motto Fidem, Libertatem, Amicitiam retinebis. From “Tacitus.”

8. Agar. Property, Lydia Agar. 1806.

Pictorial. An eagle bears a broad ribbon, on which the word property is given; an oval frame encloses what resembles a row of eggs.

9. Agnew. James Agnew, Esq.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Consilio non impetu. Attributed to Maverick.

10. Aitkin. Robert Aitkin.

Simple name label: the printer of the “Aitkin Bible.” Philadelphia, 1782. The first American edition.

11. Albany. Albany Society Library. 1759.

A peculiar plate something in the shape of the figure 8, with intertwining foliations above and at the sides. The upper part of the frame is the larger, and contains a spirited illustration of an Indian in ambush aiming an arrow at a leaping fox. On the frame surrounding this is the motto, May concord prevail and the undertakeing prosper. In the lower and smaller part is depicted a prim man, bewigged and ruffled, with an open book in his hand; presumably a patron of the Library. Very little can be learned concerning this early Library. It was probably interrupted by the Revolution. Some of its books are in the New York State Library.

12. Allan. John Allan.

Pictorial. An open book, across the pages of which is printed the name of the owner. Behind all an anchor. This is the plate of the old book collector of New York City.

13. Allen. John Allen.

Armorial. Jacobean. Motto, Law & Right. This is believed to be the plate used by John Allen, an early bookseller of Boston. He published the “News-Letter.” From the general design and the crude engraving, it must be taken for early American work: circa 1720. Illustrated in “Curio,” page 15.

14. Allison. Joseph J. Allison.

Armorial. Chippendale. Hour-glass, books, globe, palette, and brushes, grouped above the escutcheon. Motto, Hinc labor et virtus. Of Philadelphia.

15. Alsop. Richard Alsop.

Armorial. Belongs to no particular style, although the ornamentation is of Chippendale tendency. Beneath the shield, at either side, stands a cupid holding out a bunch of arrows: the drawing of these figures is not above criticism: they seem to have one arm each, and but one wing also. A Connecticut poet. Born, 1761; died, 1815. One of the famous “Hartford Wits.”

16. Ambler. Armorial. Of Virginia.

17. American. American Academy of Arts and Sciences. MDCCLXX.

A very handsome plate, having a large curtain looped back by ribbons and cords, whereon to record the name of the giver of books to the library, and above this an oval vignette representing Minerva with shield and spear in hand, and helmet on her head, standing upon the sea-shore (of Massachusetts), watching a three-master which sails far away under a glaring sun and a heavy cloud: through a corn-field and then through the woods lies the path to the distant village whose roofs can be seen: on the sand about the goddess lie scattered the scientific and agricultural implements, the uses of which it was the function of the Academy to teach. The Academy was instituted in 1779. Very good engraving but not so good drawing. The work is attributed to Callender.

18. Anderson. Alexr. Anderson.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Vigila. Signed, A. Anderson, Sculp. The original plate had only the last name engraved; the first name was added afterwards and evidently by a different hand. This plate is sometimes found with the name of his brother, John, written in before the family name, indicating perhaps that the plate was designed for the general use of the family. This is the plate of Dr. Anderson, the first engraver in wood in America.

19. Andover. Institutio Theologica Andover. Fundata MDCCCVII.

A severely plain pediment, raised upon Doric columns, bearing on the architrave the name. A blaze of glory above has in the centre the words, יהוה. Similar rays shine over the open Bible at the foot, on which is written, Ps. cxix, 169, and JOH. xvii, 17. On the base are the words, ΑΚΟΓΩΝΙ ΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΚΤΟΥ.

20. Andrew. John Andrew.

Pictorial. The implements of the engraver lie scattered upon the bench: the name is given in fac-simile of the autograph.

21. Andrews. Armorial. Of Virginia.

22. Andrews. – Andrews. (First name obliterated.)

Pictorial. The scene is out of doors and the sun rises in full strength behind a long oval frame on which the name is engraved. A little patch of earth, two well-grown trees, and scant herbage complete the accessories. Signed, Callender Sc.