American Book-Plates

50. Baltimore. The Library Company of Baltimore. Simply the Name

Engraved Within an Oval Frame. Signed, S. Allardice Phi.

51. Bancker. Abraham Bancker.

Pictorial. An eagle bears aloft an oval frame which contains the large figure 4 always seen on the book-plates of this family. A ribbon flying from the beak of the eagle bears the motto, Sublimiora petamus; beneath, a three-masted vessel, with homing pennant streaming, passes half-submerged trees and a chain of mountain peaks. Signed, Maverick Sculp’.

52. Bancker. Charles N. Bancker.

Armorial in style, but showing no actual arms. The shield is occupied by a large figure 4, which is an old “merchant mark.” Chippendale. Puffy cupids are seated on either side of the frame with accessories which indicate the pursuit of science. Motto, Dieu Defend le Droit. Signed, Jones Sc. Of Philadelphia.

53. Bancker. Charles N. Bancker.

A Chippendale frame enclosing the figure 4, and showing the same motto as the above. Helmet, wreath and crest, the eagle’s wings erect, ppr. Not signed.

54. Bancker. Evert Bancker, Junr.

A smaller and older plate than the others of this name, and showing the same figure 4, with rather wild mantling, and crest.

55. Bancker. Gerard Bancker.

Chippendale. A cupid holding a globe converses with a companion, perhaps about commerce and ocean currents; behind them a pyramid rises, and two other cupids are consulting a plan. The figure 4 is again prominent in this plate. Signed, Dawkins Sculpsit.

56. Bancroft. George Bancroft.

Pictorial. A chubby cherub approaches, with a panel in his hands on which the words ΕΙΣ ΦΑΟΣ are given. Another plate, identical in all other details, gives the motto, Sursum corda. Historian of the United States.

57. Banister. John Banister.

Plain armorial. (arms of Banester of Easington, County York, according to Burke). No motto. Of Virginia. Revolutionary soldier. Died, 1787.

58. Barrell. Joseph Barrell.

An allegorical plate full of detail. In the centre is the shield with the arms, while above the crest sits Hope with her anchor. As indicative of Industry, a very trim female figure is presented, surrounded by signs of prosperity, such as the beehive, palette and brush, and square and dividers. In contrast to this a bare-footed, raggedly clad woman with a dead fish in her lap, snails on her shoulders, broken tools around her, and with every appearance of misery and squalor, is shown at the left. The contrast between Thrift and Indolence is continued in a second series of pictures below the shield. In these it is the begging tramp and the erect, well-clothed gentleman who depict the moral. Dilapidated shanties and well-built houses are also in contrast. Mottoes, Not always so – Indure but hope. A rich Boston merchant. A pioneer in the Northwest coast trade.

59. Barroll. William Barroll. Chestertown. 1795.

An engraved name label, with the all-seeing eye above the oval frame which encloses the name. The palm and holly are crossed beneath.

60. Barton. William Barton.

Armorial. Perhaps the plate of the capturer of Genl. Prescott (1777) in Narragansett Bay.

61. Bartram. John Bartram.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Foy En Dieu. A second motto, J’avance. Celebrated Botanist of Pennsylvania.

62. Bathurst. Armorial. Of Virginia. See Burke’s “extinct Baronetage.”

63. Bay. William Bay. M.D.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath, Motto, Quo Fata Vocant. The heraldic drawing is poor and the charges are reversed. Born, Albany, 1773. Died, 1865.

64. Bayard. James A. Bayard.

The name well engraved within an oval wreath. The Delaware statesman, leader of the Federal party, and one of the negotiators of the Treaty of Ghent. Born, 1767; Died, 1815.

65. Bayard. Saml. Bayard.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. This is a very interesting specimen of the debased Chippendale. As decorative features the following are used: a large globe, quadrant, compass, sun-dial, beer-stein, and a little landscape. The branches of the frame are made to support these objects named. Jurist. Published books on law.

66. Bayley. Armorial. of the Eastern Shore, Va.

67. Beatty. J. Beatty. M.D.

Armorial. Pictorial. The shield rests against the bole of an oak, and while the arms on it (Arg. a beehive surrounded by bees) are not given in Burke, the crest appears in Fairbairn, with some changes. A globe, open book, scroll, caduceus, and cornucopia of fruit complete the accessories. Not a common type among American plates. John Beatty was born in Pennsylvania, 1749, and died in New Jersey in 1826. Rose to the rank of Colonel In the Revolutionary War, and was delegate to Congress, 1783-1785. Member of Federal Convention, and member of Congress. Illustrated in “curio,” page 114.

68. Beck. Charles Beck.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Signed, N. D. Sc. (nathaniel Dearborn). Of Cambridge, Mass. Scholar and Author.

69. Bedlow. William Bedlow.

Armorial. Monogram B L at foot of arms. Jacobean. Motto, My hope on high. Of Bedlow’s Island, New York.

70. Beete. Joseph Beete. Demerary. Plain Armorial. Motto, Fortuna perit, honestas manet.

71. Belcher. (Anonymous.)

Armorial. Jacobean. Motto, Loyal jusqu’à la Mort. This is the plate of the Colonial Governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 1730-1741 (Jonathan Belcher). The arms are the same as borne on the plate of his son Jonathan, except that this plate shows a label for difference. There is also a shortening of the motto in the other plate.

72. Belcher. Jonathan Belcher E Societate Medij Templi.

Armorial. Jacobean. Very similar to the last. Motto, Loyal au mort. Son of the preceding; born in Boston, 1710. Graduate of Harvard, student at the Middle Temple, one of the first settlers of Halifax, N.S. Died there, 1776. Illustrated in “Curio,” page 113.

73. Belcher. William Belcher, Owner.

Literary. A shelf of books enclosed within an oval which bears the mottoes, With welcome use – but use with care. The wicked borrow, – but never return. Of New London, Conn., circa 1790.

74. Belcher. William Belcher. Savannah.

Armorial. Pictorial. A very beautiful engraving. The shield rests upon the ground and is supported by the oak tree which spreads over it; willows and pines complete the little group of trees, and beyond a stretch of water is seen. The motto, Loyal au mort, is on the ribbon which flutters along the ground beside the shield.

75. Bel-chier. J. Bel-Chier.

Armorial. Jacobean. Motto, Loyal jusq’ a la mort. Printed in red ink.

76. Beresford. Richard Beresford, Charleston. 1772.