American Book-Plates

Plain armorial. No motto, the name occupying the motto-ribbon. Same arms as the John C. Warren.

910. Warren. The Property of Samuel Warren, jun. Providence.

The name is printed from type within an engraved border, and the date, 1799, appears in MS.

911. Warren. W. Warren. Theatre.

Pictorial. The name is given within a frame of shield shape, above which a pair of antlers, trimmed with oak branches and festoons of oak leaves, is seen; resting between them are a book and looking-glass. At the foot of the frame a loving cup.

912. Washington. Bushrod Washington.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Exitus acta probat. Nephew of the President, to whom Mount Vernon descended. This plate is almost identical with the Whitebread plate by Dawkins. The dragon changes places with the long spray of flowers, otherwise they are the same. It is not known whether Dawkins did this plate or not, but presumably he copied the other from this, which is likely to have been an imported plate. It is not at all an uncommon type among the English plates.

913. Washington. George Washington.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Exitus acta probat. First President of the United States.

914. Waterhouse. John Waterhouse. Halifax.

Crest only. Motto, Veritas vincit omnia.

915. Waties. Thomas Waties.

Armorial. Of South Carolina. An eminent judge for a period of some forty years. Born, 1760; died, 1828.

916. Watkins. John W. Watkins. A.M.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Fortis et fidelis. Signed, Rollinson Sct.

917. Watts. John Watts.

Plain armorial. Motto, Forti non deficit telum. A Loyalist of New York, whose estates were confiscated. Statue in Trinity Churchyard, New York City.

918. Webster. Danl. Webster.

Plain armorial. Motto, Vera pro gratis. Name in fac-simile of signature. Statesman, lawyer, and orator.

919. Welch. D. T. Welch.

Literary. Similar to the M. W. Day plate. Motto, Literatura mentem expandit.

920. Weld. Isaac Weld.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Verum atque decens. Traveller and author.

921. Welford. Beverley R. Welford. M.D.

Motto, The wicked man borroweth and returneth not again. Engraved name-label. Of Richmond, Va.

922. Wentworth. Wentworth.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, En Dieu est tout. Signed, N. Hurd, Scp. Of New Hampshire.

923. Wethersfield. Social Library, Stepney Society, Wethersfield.

Literary. A shelf of books is raised upon a frame of Chippendale scroll-work, and has a ribbon draped upon the front of it, bearing the motto, Waste not a moment. Above the books on the shelf a winged hour-glass is seen under the folds of a draped curtain. Signed, Doolittle Sculpt. This plate is also found with the signature erased, and the following line added in fine letters under the design: Annual Meeting, 1st Monday in Dec. at 6. P.M. when every book is to be returned.

924. Wetmore. Charles H. Wetmore.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Virtus libertas et patria. Signed, Doolittle Sculp. The open field face of the shield is used for the number of the volume. Of Connecticut.

925. Wetmore. Prosper Wetmore.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Virtus libertas et patria. The bit of landscape again comes in, as so often in the work of this engraver. Signed on an open scroll, Maverick Sculpt. Of New York.

926. Wetmore. William Wetmore.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Tentanda via est. Signed, Revere sc. Some proofs of this plate are found without the signature, having been printed before it was signed. Of Massachusetts.

927. Whatley. Joseph Whatley.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Pelle timorem.

928. Wheeler. David B. Wheeler.

A Masonic plate. The full sun, eight-pointed star, and crescent moon are above the name, while below it are the square and dividers, crossed; the whole enclosed within a frame of ornamental type.

929. Wheelwright. Nathl. Wheelwright.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Of Massachusetts.

930. White. Daniel A. White.

An engraved name-label, with the name enclosed in palm branches, and the mottoes on ribbons above and below. Multum legendum. Esse quam videri.

931. Whitebread. W … Whitebread. (First name torn off.)

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Pro lege et rege. Signed, Dawkins, Fecit. Of New York.

932. Whitridge. The Property of J. B. Whitridge.

Pictorial. On a bit of ground surrounded by water, Hope stands leaning upon her anchor, and raising her hand towards the motto, In God we hope, which floats on a ribbon above her. Under the name a second motto, Cui est amiens, felix. Signed, J. R. Penniman Delt. W. B. Annin. Sc. Physician at Charleston, S.C., at the beginning of the century.

933. Wilkes. Charles Wilkes.

Plain armorial. Motto, Arcui meo non confido. Signed, Rollinson sc. Of New York.

934. Williams. Williams.

Armorial. Late Jacobean. No motto. Of Massachusetts.

935. Williams. Azarias Williams.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Amicitia cum libertate. Signed, Rollinson Sculpt.

936. Williams. Gulielmi Williams ex Insula Antigua.

Armorial. Pictorial. A beautiful granite canopy is erected on the shore of the island; a view of the sea is afforded, and the palmetto-trees yield a grateful shade; at the foot of the stone-work are grouped a globe, scrolls, telescope, compasses, books, sextant, and drawing instruments – significant of the tastes of the owner; the arms are carved upon the face of the stone, and the crest is protected by a hood of graceful design; flowers in long garlands are trailed over the monument. Signed, S. Ingram fecit a Paris. A very beautiful plate.

937. Williams. Johannes Williams His Book. 1679.

The oldest dated book-plate we have; probably the plate of the first minister of Deerfield, Mass., whose house was raided by the Indians. A printed label.

938. Williams. John Williams, Esqr.

Armorial. Late Jacobean. Motto, Floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia libant omnia nos. Born, Wethersfield, Conn., Sept. 11, 1762; Yale, 1802; died, 1840. This plate bears some resemblance to the plates of Elijah Backus and Daniel Waldo, both in design, size, and execution.

939. Williams. John Williams.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia libant omnia nos. Same as the preceding.

940. Williams. John Williams.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Y cadam ae cypwyn. Of Boston. Circa 1767.

941. Williams. John C. Williams.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Cognoscere occasionem. Signed, N. H. Scp. Of Massachusetts. Quite similar to the Jonathan Jackson plate by the same engraver.

942. Williams. (Anonymous.)

Armorial. Pictorial. The shield is thrown under a tree with a confusion of other things, – a harp, lyre, horn, music-book, violin bow, sword, arrow, bow, and Indian head-dress. An expanse of water at the right is illumined by the rising sun. Signed, Harris, sc. Of Massachusetts.

943. Willis. Willis.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. No crest.

944. Willis. Samuel Willis.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto-ribbon empty. Signed, Thos. Johnston. Sc. This design seems to be a copy of one of Hurd’s.

945. Wilson. David Wilson.

Armorial. Chippendale. Exactly like the succeeding, and probably the same copper with the name changed.

946. Wilson. James Wilson.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Very handsome plate in the style of Hurd’s best design; a border is added, which is unusual with him, and it is twined with garlands of roses, and has shells in the corners.

947. Wilson. John Wilson, Barbadoes.

Armorial. Pictorial. The scene is in the tropics; a cornucopia pours its riches of fruit upon the ground, just below the oval shield, which is steadied by a winged cherub, who gazes off into the clouds; the background shows trees, an expanse of water, and either icebergs or snow-capped mountains.

948. Wilson. John Wilson, Kingston. Jamaica.

Pictorial. The name is given on an open book, which is surrounded by a wreath.

949. Winthrop. William Winthrop.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Spes vincit terrorem. Signed, S. Hill.

950. Winthrop. J. W.

Armorial. (Winthrop arms.) Jacobean. Plate of John Winthrop; born, Boston, 1681; died in England, 1747.

951. Wiseman. Joseph Wiseman.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto-ribbon empty. Signed, Vallance Sc. Of Pennsylvania.

952. Wisner. Polydore B. Wisner.

Armorial in form. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Via ad cordem. Signed, Maverick Sculpt. Of New York.

953. Wolcott. Oliver Wolcott.

Armorial. Jacobean. No motto. Of Connecticut. Signer of the Declaration.

954. Wood. Joseph Wood.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Of Pennsylvania. Colonel in Revolutionary Army.

955. Woodbridge. Wm. Woodbridge.

A plain name-label, with the name and the motto, Wisely for PLEASURE and for PROFIT read: thus hold high CONVERSE with the MIGHTY dead, enclosed within a border of ornamental type. Of Connecticut. Statesman and jurist.

956. Worcester. The Property of the Worcester Circulating Library Company.

First Cost… Fine for detention – per day. Enclosed in a woodcut border; a coin showing a monarch with the wreath of victory on his head, above. Very likely to have been printed by Isaiah Thomas.

957. Wormeley. Ralph Wormeley of Rosegill.

Armorial. No crest. Chippendale. Motto, Nunc mihi nunc alii. Books used in the ornamentation. Of Virginia.

958. Wormeley. Ralph Wormeley of Rosegill.

Armorial. Same arms as above. Chippendale. Motto-ribbon empty. No crest. Not the same plate as the preceding.

959. Wright. James Wright Esqr.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Last Royal Governor of Georgia.

960. Wynkoop. Augustus Wynkoop.

Armorial. Supporters, bacchantes with bottles in hands and wine-cups held aloft, with scant covering to their bodies. On the shield, beside a cask, an old man holds a glass before a young boy, evidently in warning; a grape-vine grows near by. An eagle for crest spreads his wings over the mantling. The supporters stand upon the name-frame. Of New York.

961. Wynkoop. C. C. Wynkoop.

Same arms as the above. Of New York.

962. Wynkoop. Peter Wynkoop.

Same arms as the above. Supporters are now hideous boys. No motto on the motto-ribbon, upon which the boys stand. Of New York. Illustrated in “Curio,” page 17.

963. Wythe. George Wythe, Virginia.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Secundis dubisque rectus. Of Virginia. Signer of the Declaration.

964. Yale College. The Property of the Brothers in Unity, Yale College.

Allegorical. Bordered by an oblong frame, the name is given in the centre of the design, with this verse below,

Friendship and Science thus combineTo aid and honour our design:With us unite an equal claim,And share alike the social name.

Above, on a ribbon bearing the motto, E parvis oriunter magna, two grinning females mutually support a circular frame, in which the crowd of Brothers is seen walking bareheaded under a powerful sun. Omnes in uno concordia is on the frame. The supporters doubtless depict Friendship and Science. A pile of books between them completes the inventory. Signed, Wm. Taylor Deln. A. Doolittle Sculpt.

965. Yale College. Brothers in Unity.

Allegorical. Under the name the following lines are given: —

Hermes eloquio potens recluditFontes, ecce, suos: et amplioraVena Pierii fluunt liquores:Atque arces reserat suas Minerva.

Above is a delightful engraving. Minerva helmeted and robed but without the spear, attended by Hermes, calls the attention of the approaching group of young men to the pile of books on the ground before them, and also to Demosthenes, who on the near-by sea-shore is declaiming vociferously to the rolling waves. Signed, E. Tisdale Del. S. S. Jocelyn Sc.

966. Yale College. Brothers in Unity.

Allegorical. Beneath the name, which supports itself in mid-air, Minerva (?) is seated, and is directing the efforts of two cherubs who are at work on geographical and architectural problems, as evidenced by the globe and capital before which each bends; to them comes a third cherub, and, alighting on the capital before one of the cherubs, holds out a scroll on which is written ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑ. The goddess calls the attention of the other cherub to this message. Architectural features abound in the distance. Signed, O. Pelton. Sc.

967. Yale College. This book belongs to the Linonian Meeting.

A view of the college chapel and one of the halls is shown within a loop of a ribbon which runs across the top of the plate; on the ribbon, Concordia societatis nostra vinculum est. Two clasped hands below the name are enclosed by a ribbon, on which is the word, Amicitia. Rude quirks and flourishes are introduced, and the whole appearance of the plate is rough.

968. Yale College. Linonian Library, Yale College.

Allegorical. In the immediate foreground a youth, with some uncertainty in his air, submits to be led by the hand of Minerva, who turns to cheer him, and points to the temple of Fame crowning the summit of the hill, up whose tortuous sides the path they are pursuing leads; Father Time, with discouraged mien, head resting on his hand, sits upon the globe amid the ruin of architectural fragments, grasping his faithful scythe in the right hand; the temple of Fame is surmounted by an angel, who is blowing mightily on the trumpet of the goddess who presides over the shrine; the word Immortalitas is inscribed across the entablature; just over the youth and Minerva, in a cloudy swirl, three cherubs hold aloft a sheepskin, on which is seen LINONIA Sept. 12. 1753. Quiescit in perfecto. Above all this a heart-shaped shield is divided into five parts, which hold a pelican in her piety, a book-case, a dove on the olive branch, the phœnix rising from the fire, and a puppy dog, whose meaning is uncertain. Scrolls about the shield bear the motto, Amicitia concordia soli noscimus. A cherub’s face peers over the shield. Signed, Doolittle Sc. 1802.

969. Yale College. Presented to the Linonian Society by…

Allegorical. The name is on a curtain draped beneath the picture of the advancing Minerva, who, helmeted, robed, and with spear in hand, is seen approaching, and apparently speaking as she comes; behind her, seated by a pile of books, an attendant maid reclines against an urn of flowers, and with a sun-glass draws the rays of the sun into strong focus upon a scroll which brings into plain sight the word Yale. Signed, G. Fairman.

970. Yale College. Moral Library Yale College.

Library interior. The librarian is seated by the desk, on the front panel of which the name is carved; an open book is in his right hand; a large globe before him, and shelves of books behind him; through the open door, which appears to be some distance off, across the tessallated floor, a group of students, headed by a professor in flowing robes, is seen. Over the door the name, Moral Society, is placed. Above all, the motto, Virtus et scientia ad utilitatem dirigunt.

971. Yale College. Philotechnian Library.

Pictorial. The front of a Greek temple is seen with the space in front of it filled with the emblems and implements of the arts and sciences. The date, 1795, is seen on a shield in the centre; probably the date of the founding of the library. Signed, Jos. Perkins sc N. York.

972. Yates. Christr. C. Yates.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Ne parcas nec spernas. Very rough work, and hardly worthy to be classed as Chippendale. Illustrated in “Art Amateur,” March, 1894.

973. Yates. Peter W. Yates. Esqr.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Ne parcas nec spernas. Signed, H. D. sc. Of New York.

974. Young. Alexander Young.

Plain armorial. Motto, Robori prudentia praestat. Unitarian clergyman and historian of Boston.

975. Young. The Property of Ammi B. Young. Lebanon. N.H.

A small, neatly engraved label.

976. Young. Thomas J. Young.

Rector of St. Michael’s Church, Charleston, S.C. Born, 1803. Three plates.

977. Young. William Young.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Labore. This plate has very flowing mantling, which terminates at either side in eagles’ heads; from their beaks depend the slight festoons which place the plate in the Ribbon and Wreath class.

978. Unidentified. (Name defaced.) Property of… Bookbinder, U. S. A.

Pictorial. An open book; on the first page, a cradle; on the second, a coffin; behind the book, a sword, quill, and anchor. The following mottoes are used: —

See some strange comfort ev’ry state attend. POPE

Ah, when the dream of life shall be passed, what will have availed all its agitation, if it leave not one trace of utility behind? VOLNEY.

Crescit amor nummi.Stultum est in alieno foro sigitare.A very rude woodcut.

979. Unidentified. (Name defaced.)

Pictorial. An eagle soars aloft, bearing an oval frame with the name of the owner upon it; the broad rays of the sun behind the eagle light up the pine trees on the distant hill-tops. In the lower right-hand corner the smoke rises from the chimney of a house whose roof is just visible, shaded by a peculiar tree.

980. Unidentified. (Name defaced.)

Pictorial. An eagle holding a small United States shield in his beak, and a ribbon on which the United States motto is given, E pluribus unum. In the oval beneath, Use this carefully and return it immediately. A Bible under all. Signed, W. Barber. Sculpt.

981. Unidentified. Armorial.

Arms, Vert three garbs ppr. Crest, a swarm of bees about a hive. Chippendale. Motto, Libertas et patria mea. Signed, H. Dawkins Sculpt.

982. Unidentified. Pictorial.

Within an oval frame we see the interior of a large room, which might be a library but looks more like a school-room; seated at a desk in the centre of the room is a man in the elaborate costume of the gentleman of the last century; books are before him, and on the floor beside him; a large globe is at hand; the appearance of the seated scholar is that of a professor waiting for his class to file in. The name is given upon a ribbon which is tied above, but it has been cut out of the specimen at hand. Signed, A. Godwin. Sculp.

* * *ADDITIONS WHILE PRINTING

983. Boston. Boston Architectural Library.

A large label made up of type ornaments and a woodcut festoon.

984. Champion. Epaphroditus Champion, Jr.

Plain armorial. Motto, Pro rege et patria. Signed, P. Maverick, Sc.

985. Chin. Henry Chin.

Armorial. Virginia.

986. Edgar. William Edgar.

Plain armorial. No motto. Of New Jersey.

987. Haverhill. Haverhill Library. (Mass.)

A small woodcut label; festoons and an ancient coin.

988. Kunze. Johann Christopher Kunze, Prediger in Philadelphia.

Pastor of a Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. Printed label.

989. Malvians. Malvians.

Pictorial. A skeleton with the motto, Ille ego quiad sanandos vivos seco mortuos, around it.

990. Muhlenberg. (Anonymous.)

Armorial. Motto, Solus minus solus. This is probably the plate used by the brother of John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, the “fighting parson” of the Revolution.

991. Oliver. Francis Johonnot Oliver, Boston.

Armorial. Crest only. Motto, L’amour et l’amitié. A very graceful design of festoons encloses the name and motto.

992. Scott. John N. D. S. Scott.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, In God we trust. This is the same copper as No. 766.

993. Sumner. Geo. Sumner.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. No motto.

994. Weiberg. The Property of Samuel Weiberg: ubi libertas ibi patria.

Printed label.

995. Wright. Joseph Wright.

Literary. Identical with the George Goodwin.

A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF THE DATED PLATES UP TO 1800

AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE SIGNED PLATES

* Plates marked thus have not been seen by the writer, and the exact manner of signing has not been communicated.

A glance at the above list shows that our early engravers had no set rule by which to record their names on plates which they engraved; they used full names or initials as the fancy seized them, or the room on the plate demanded. In the word chosen to denote the fact of engraving a great diversity is seen, though by far the most used sculpsit or its abbreviations.

Hurd and Callender seem to have been the most methodical, as they used one form a good deal. Dawkins had several styles, and Maverick had one or two, but was pretty certain to use an abbreviation of sculpsit.

A LIST OF THE MOTTOES FOUND UPON THE EARLY AMERICAN BOOK-PLATES, WITH TRANSLATIONS

IN the Introduction to his “Handbook of Mottoes,” Mr. C. N. Elvin separates the mottoes into the following four classes: —

While all these classes are represented in the following list of mottoes and quotations taken from the early American Book-plates, such a classification is hardly adapted to the very limited number of mottoes employed, and we should divide them into but two general classes, under which, however, a number of subdivisions will occur to the reader.

1. The family mottoes: used either as a matter of course or with a reasonable pride in the possession.

2. The mottoes which are the choice or selection of the owner of the plate: in this are included quotations from the classic writers of both poetry and prose, mottoes of a patriotic nature, of a moral and of an educational character, as well as others in lighter vein.

Plates are found, too, that have the family motto and one of private suitability in addition. The expressions against the lending of books and the lines directing the attention to the value of good reading, and kindred sentiments, mentioned in previous chapters, are not included here.

The translations will be found rather “free” in many cases, and it will need but a casual glance at the construction of some of the Latin phrases to see that such a freedom is necessary.

ἉΚΡΟΡΟΓΩVΙΑΙΟΥ ὉVΤΕSἹΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ. (Eph. ii. 20.) Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. Andover Theol. Sem.

ἉΛΗΘΕΙΑ. Truth. Brothers in Unity (955).

βελτωναι οὑδιδἁξαι. Rather virtue than learning. Stith.

ΕΙΣ ΦΑΟΣ. Into the light. Bancroft.

Ἑραυατε τας γρἁφας. (John v. 39.) Search the Scriptures. Smith (776).

Θἡγει φρἑνα το ἡδυ τἑχνων. Pursuit of pleasure sharpens the wits. Phœnix Society.

Κατὰ σκοπὸν διὡκω. (Phil. iii. 14.) I press toward the mark. Pintard.

ΚΗΡΥΣΣΟΕΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΝ ἙΣΤΑUΥΡΩΜΕΝΟΝ. (1 Cor. i. 23.) We preach Christ crucified. Conn. Theo. Inst.