American Book-Plates

It must not be supposed that the heraldic book-plate was an outgrowth or development of the name-label: not at all; they were contemporaneous and were both used in England long before they were here.

Coming now to the subject of mottoes, we find a wide field to travel over, many languages to read, many quotations to recognize, with hints and warnings, and even threatenings, by the score, from jealous book-lovers. Mottoes readily fall into two classes: those which are chosen by the owner for some personal reason, and those which are family mottoes, and which are used without thought because they are a family inheritance, or with a commendable pride in such legacies from an honorable ancestry. Latin is the language most often used probably, though English is a strong rival, while German, French, Greek, and even Hebrew and Welsh are also found upon our book-plates. Sentiments opposing the habit of book-borrowing are of frequent occurrence, and in some instances are of such severity as to leave no doubt of their effectiveness. For brevity and pointedness the following example can hardly be exceeded: —

This book was bought and paid for by

D. C. Colesworthy

Borrowing neighbors are recommended

to supply themselves in the same manner

Price seventy-five cents

On the book-plate of D. W. Jayne the following verse from the Bible is used: —

Go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. Matt. Chap. xxv. ver. 9.

Verses from Holy Writ are quite frequently used on plates, and the style of expression found in the Psalms and Proverbs is borrowed as adding an authoritative emphasis to the words of caution and advice, —

The wicked borrow, and returneth not: do thou not like unto them.
Return what thou borroweth with the most sacred punctuality, and withhold it not.

On the plate of a book-lover in Charleston, S.C., —

And ye shall keep me until the fourteenth day. And it shall be when thou hast made an end of reading this book. Send me away unto my master. Ex. xii. 6: Jer. li. 63: Gen. xxiv. 54.

Every one has suffered from book-borrowers, even from school-day times, when the rude doggerel, —

Steal not this book for fear of shame,
For here you see the owner’s name,

or its variant,

Steal not this book for fear of strife,
For its owner carries a huge jack-knife,

was printed in coarse letters across the cover of the books most likely to go astray. How irritating it is to find the very volume one needs at the moment, missing from its accustomed place on the shelf; if anything is lacking to complete the torment of the discovery, let it be impossible to find out who has taken the desired volume, or to get any clew as to when it went or where!

Private Library of J. N. Candee Cole, This book is not loaned. Matt. xxv. 9.

Read not books alone: but men, and be careful to read thyself. The property of John Lambert, South Reading.

To Borrowers of Books.
You remember, my friend, I freely comply’d
With the favour you asked me, and fully relied
On a favour from you, which, tho’ promised, I find,
As it hasn’t been granted, is out of your mind,
To return in due time what I’ve wanted to see,
The Book, which ’tis long since you borrow’d of me.
Another I now with reluctance implore,
’Tis only to ask that you borrow no more.

Stolen from J. W. Houx,

Book-keeping taught in three words,

Never lend them

The would-be borrower who finds these sentiments in the book he was about to ask for will scarcely be encouraged to do so, and for directness they are exceeded by only one example, in which the owner’s name is followed by the simple declaration, He does not lend books. The motto on the plate of the late George Ticknor—Suum cuique, To every man his own– was also calculated to discourage the borrower.

But some people do lend books, and have them returned too, – in good second-hand condition. And so it comes about that the proper use of books is made the subject of another class of mottoes.

My Friend! Should you this book peruse,
Please to protect it from abuse:
Nor soil, nor stain, nor mark its page,
Nor give it premature old age:
And, when it has effected all,
Please to return it ere I call.

The following verse is common property and is found on several plates: —

If thou art borrowed by a friend,
Right welcome shall he be
To read, to study, not to lend,
And to return to me.

Not that imparted learning doth
Diminish learning’s store,
But books, I find, if often lent,
Return to me no more.

Read slowly,
Pause frequently,
Think seriously,
Return duly with the corners of the leaves not turned down.

Neither blemish this book, nor the leaves double down,
Nor lend it to each idle friend in the town:
Return it when read, – or if lost please supply
Another, as good to the mind and the eye.
With right and with reason you need but be friends
And each book in my study your pleasure attends.

If through respect or love I lend
This book unto my worthy friend,
He must not soil, abuse, nor tear,
But read with diligence and care;
And when its contents you have learned,