American Book-Plates

The following plates are signed by Rollinson: —

—

J. Smithers, an Englishman, originally a gun-engraver employed in the Tower of London, came to Philadelphia in the year 1773.

He had a good name as a man and as an engraver, and made the blocks for the Continental money. A large plan of the city of Philadelphia on three plates, which was his work, was subsequently purchased, when copper was scarce, for thirty dollars, and cut up into smaller pieces. Among his pupils was Trenchard, of whose work we have a few examples.

The following plates are signed by Smithers: —

He sometimes signed with the final s, and sometimes without it. His book-plates are not especially brilliant in any way, but are good, and in the pure style. His finest attempt is the landscape plate for Dr. McMurtrie of Philadelphia.

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T. Sparrow was an obscure engraver on wood, who worked at his trade in Annapolis from 1765 to about 1780, and who did considerable work for “Ann Catherine Green & Son, Printers,” of that town, on title-pages, tail-pieces, etc. He engraved on copper the title-page for the “Deputy Commissary’s Guide of Maryland,” published by the above firm in 1774, and which is a creditable piece of work. All the book-plates known at present are on wood, and they are but two in number: the Richard Sprigg and the Gabriel Duvall, both of whom were men of prominence in the colonial times, in Maryland.

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William D. Terry, who was mentioned as the founder, with Pelton, of the Bank-Note Company, in Boston, engraved a plate for the Redwood Library, of Newport. This is a large representation of the library, and is a fine piece of work.

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James Thackara was a partner of John Vallance, in the engraving business, and they were together for a good many years. Thackara was inferior to his partner as an engraver, according to Dunlap, and was for a long time the keeper of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

We know but one example of his book-plate work, and that is the Lenthall plate, which is a large and very interesting example of the Ribbon and Wreath style. It is an excellent piece of engraving, full of style, and graceful in design.

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James Trenchard was born in Cumberland County, New Jersey, about 1746. He was a pupil of Smithers, and engraved in Philadelphia,

about 1785. Among his pupils were Thackara, Vallance, and his nephew, Edward Trenchard, who became an officer in the United States Navy, and served in the War of 1812.

Trenchard was one of the owners of the “Columbian Magazine,” published in Philadelphia from 1786 to 1792, and he engraved many plates for its pages.

One signed book-plate of his is known, – the Bloomfield. This is a Chippendale plate of no striking features. The Luther Martin plate is so similar to this as to leave hardly any doubt that it too was by Trenchard.

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James Turner is another of the early American artists of whom very little is known now. He was at one time in Boston, but later removed to Philadelphia. He did some portrait and some music work. Of his book-plate work we have but three signed specimens. By far the most interesting and valuable of these is the extremely rare plate of John Franklin of Boston in New England. This is very fully described in the List of Early American Book-plates. The other plates are the Sir John St. Clair, and the plate for Isaac Norris, of the family of the Quaker Chief Justice of Pennsylvania.

The plate of James Hall, although not signed, is also attributed to him.

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John Vallance, whose name is connected with that of Thackara, engraved with him many plates for Dobson’s Encyclopædia. He made heads of Franklin and Howard, which were pronounced successful, and he had a high reputation as an engraver.

One authenticated example of his book-plate work is known, the Joseph Wiseman, in the Ribbon and Wreath style; and the David Brearly, although not signed, is attributed to him.

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Of the other engravers whose names appear on but one or two plates, no information has been obtained. There were probably many who had but a local fame, and who made but a few plates. Their names are remembered now in a way not expected at the time of signing them, undoubtedly.

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In a recent article on Count Rumford, in the “New England Magazine,” it is said that, when a youth, he designed book-plates. No authentic examples of his work are known, and no information can be obtained concerning any.

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Jacob Hurd, the father of Nathaniel, was a goldsmith of Boston, and his name is on pieces of plate in the First and Second churches in Boston, and the First Church, and Christ Church, in Dorchester. He very probably made book-plates, though no signed work is known. He died in 1758. He appears in the list of subscribers to “Prince’s Chronological History of New England,” as taking six copies.

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.

23. Andrews. Eliza Andrews.

Pictorial. Exactly the same as the succeeding, with the exception of the change in the name and the omission of the engraver’s signature.

24. Andrews. Henry Andrews.

Pictorial: representing Minerva, crowned, with spear and shield: the owl sits upon a convenient pedestal. The name of the owner is put upon the edge of the shield which the goddess rests upon the ground. Signed, S. Harris. Sc.

25. Antill. Edwad. Antill. Esqr., A.M.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Probitas laudatur et alget. A New Jersey author. Illustrated in “Art Amateur,” April, 1894.

26. Apthorp. Apthorp.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto-ribbon empty.

27. Apthorp. East Apthorp, A.M. Cambridge MDCCLXI.

Armorial. Late Jacobean. Motto, Nemo nisi Christus. Eminent Episcopal divine, born in Boston, 1733; educated at Cambridge, and died, 1816.

28. Apthorp. Jno. Apthorp.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Fari quae sentiat. The same plate as the one mentioned above as having the motto-ribbon empty. In this example the name Jno. is written, and so is the motto.

29. Apthorp. Thomas Apthorp.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Juste rem para. Flowers, and a huge bee in the decoration. Printed in blue ink. Born, 1741. Died in England.

30. Archdeacon. S. Archdeacon.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Esse quam videri. Signed, W. S. A pretty design, with the caduceus of Mercury introduced in the ornamentation.

31. Archer. William Archer.

Armorial. Of Chesterfield County, Virginia.

32. Archer. William Archer, Powhatan. A plain label with the name within a type border.

33. Armistead. William Armistead.

Armorial. Of Virginia. Of Revolutionary fame.

34. Ashwell. Charles Ashwell of Grenada. Plain armorial.

35. Assheton. Ralph Assheton, M.D., Philadelphia.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, In Domino confido. Son of the Councillor; studied medicine in Edinburgh.

36. Assheton. Willm. Assheton Esqr. of Barbadoes.

Armorial. Chippendale. Very ornate. No motto. Began the practice of law in Penna., and was afterwards described as “of the Parish of St. Michael’s in Barbadoes, gentleman.” He was Provost-Marshal of Barbadoes.

37. Assheton. William Assheton Esq. of Gray’s Inn, Judge of the Court of Admiralty of Penn. 1718.

Arms, crest, and quarterings.

38. Atkinson. Theodore Atkinson.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Signed, N. Hurd. Scp. This is the same design that was used in the Wentworth plate, but is much better in execution. The peculiar flow of water from the shell beneath the escutcheon is caught in a bowl: the only instance. Secretary of the colony of New Hampshire, 1741; Chief Justice, 1754; Major-General of militia, 1769; delegate to Congress at Albany, 1754.

39. Atkinson. William King Atkinson.

Armorial. Chippendale: a copy of the preceding design. Motto, Nil facimus non sponte Dei. Signed, Callender Sc. A noted lawyer of Portsmouth, N.H. (1764-1820). Changed his name from King to Atkinson out of respect to Judge Atkinson.

40. Atlee. Willm. Augs. Atlee Esqr. of Lancaster PENNSYLVANIA.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto-ribbon empty; bears some marks of being unfinished. Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1777-1791.

41. Atwood. Harry Atwood.

Armorial. Chippendale. Very ornate; architectural and landscape effects used. No motto.

42. Auchmuty. Richard Tylden Auchmuty. Plain armorial. Motto, Dum spiro spero. Signed, A & S.

43. Backhouse. W. Backhouse, M.A.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Pax et amor.

44. Backus. Elijah Backus.

Armorial. Jacobean. No motto; name on motto-ribbon. Very crude workmanship.

45. Baldwin. D. Baldwin, Owner. An Engraved Label, the Words Being Within an Oval Wreath.

46. Baldwin. Jonathan Baldwin.

Armorial. Signed by Callender.

47. Baldwin. Luke Baldwin.

Armorial. Signed by Callender.

48. Ball. Flamen Ball.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Semper caveto. Signed, P. R. Maverick. Sct.

49. Ballord. Wm. Ballord’s.

Armorial. Plain. No Motto.

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.