American Book-Plates

178. Connecticut Theological Institute. Theol. Institute of Con. 1833. Presented by

Pictorial. The representation is of a pulpit with winding stairs on either side, and a very tall solemn-looking sounding-board behind it, partially hid by a curtain. The front panel of the pulpit has the following, ΚΗΡΥΣΣΟΜΕΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΝ ἙΣΤΑΥΡΩΜΕΝ.

179. Connecticut Theological Institute. Society of Inquiry. Theological Institute of Connecticut.

Three book shelves disclosed by a drawn curtain.

180. Connolly. Charles M. Connolly.

Armorial. Motto, En Dieu est tout. Signed, J. G. Bolen, 104 B’way.

181. Constable. William Constable.

Plain armorial. Motto, Post tot Naufragia portus. Of the early New York family that owned large estates near Utica, N.Y. This plate is circa 1783 and was engraved in New York. It is interesting as a specimen of twisted heraldry; the correct arms are “Quarterly, gu. and vaire, over all a bend or.” (Flamburgh. Co. York, descended from Robert De Lacy, second son of John De Lacy, Baron of Halton, and Constable of Chester). See Burke. In this plate the arms are “Quarterly vaire and gu. over all a bend sinister or.,” which are manifestly incorrect. It was not probably the purpose of the engraver to make this alteration, but not understanding heraldic drawing he drew the arms correctly on the copper, which reversed them in the print.

182. Cooley. Abial A. Cooley’s Property.

An elaborate plate of its kind, which is unusual; it is regular die-sinker’s work, and is printed in red ink. The word Property is on a ribbon which is arched over a peacock and a dove; scrolls abound in convenient places. The only copy seen is in a Boston imprint. 1742.

183. Cooper. Myles Cooper LL.D. Coll. Regis Nov. Ebor. in America. Praefes, et Coll. Reginae de Oxon. Socius &c.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Second President of King’s College (now Columbia). His Loyalist inclinations resulted in a hasty flight from the college; he escaped to England, where he was an honored preacher. Illustrated in “Art Amateur,” April, 1894.

184. Courtenay. Henry Courtenay.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Very similar in style to the Philip Dumaresque. Not signed, but undoubtedly by Hurd. Of Massachusetts.

185. Cox. Chris. C. Cox. A.M. M.D.

A name-label with the skull and crossed bones above the name. The motto, Lectorem delectando paritque monendo, is given below.

186. Cox. Chris. C. Cox. A.M. M.D. LL.D.

Armorial. Crest only. Motto, Fortiter et fideliter.

187. Cranch. Richd. Cranch. Braintree.

An engraved label. The name is within an oval frame, formed of oak and laurel leaves. This plate was engraved by William Bond of Falmouth (now Portland), in 1786. Richard Cranch was a brother-in-law of John Adams, and lived in Quincy, and also in the adjoining town of Braintree.

188. Craven. Craven.

Armorial. Motto, Verus in actione consistit. This is the plate of Lord William Craven, one of the Lords Proprietors of South Carolina.

189. Crookshank. Judge Crookshank.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Lege et ratione.

190. Cunningham. James Cunningham, Junior.

Armorial. Jacobean. No motto. Printed in blue ink.

191. Cunyngham. Robert Cunyngham, of Cayou in ye Island of St. Christopher in America, Esqr.

An old armorial plate; no further information at hand.

192. Curwen. (Anonymous.)

Armorial. Jacobean. No motto. A crude piece of work. Of Salem, Mass.

193. Cushing. Jacob Cushing, His Book. 1746.

A plain printed label with border of ornamental type.

194. Cushman. Cushman.

Plain armorial. Motto, Habeo pro jus fasque. Signed, Pulini Inc. The famous actress, Charlotte Cushman.

195. Custis. Geo. Washg. Park Custis.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. The last of Washington’s family – builder of “Arlington.” Son of the following.

196. Custis. John Park Custis.

Armorial. Presumably assumed arms; arg. an eagle displayed ppr. Crest, an eagle’s head erased ppr. Chippendale. No motto. Son of Mrs. Washington by her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis. The engraver omitted the e from the middle name.

197. Cutting. James S. Cutting.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Postero ne credo. Signed, Maverick Sct. Of New York.

198. Cutting. William Cutting.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Carpe diem: postero ne crede. Signed, P. R. Maverick Sct. Of New York.

199. Cuyler. John Cuyler.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto-ribbon empty. Signed, Maverick Sculpt. Of New York.

200. Dana. Edmund Trowbridge Dana.

The same copper as the following plate, with slight alterations. In the upper left-hand corner the date A.D. 1569 is given. Presumably the date of the grant of arms. Son of R. H. Dana. Translator and editor of works on International Law.

201. Dana. Francis Dana.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Cavendotutus. Signed, N. H. Scp. A handsome plate in Hurd’s best style. Statesman and jurist. Born, Charlestown, Mass., 1743; died in Cambridge, 1811.

202. Dana. Richard Henry Dana.

The same old copper again retouched. The date 1569 is in new type, and the name is changed to the present user. Poet and essayist.

203. Danforth. Danforth.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Ubi plura offendar maculis nitent non ego paucis. Signed, N. H. Scp. At the upper left-hand corner, outside the design, the sun shines in full strength. Presumably the plate of Dr. Samuel Danforth of Boston. Born, 1740; died, 1827.

204. Dartmouth College. Library of Dartmouth College. Presented by Isaiah Thomas Esq A.D. 1819 in his Donation of 470 Volumes.

These words printed from type within a border of ornamental type disposed in an oval.

205. Dartmouth College. Social Friends Library.

A plain shield with thistles for decoration bears the number of the volume. Motto, Sol sapientiae nunquam occidet. The full sun above the shield.

206. Davenport. Armorial. Of Virginia.

207. Davidson. Henry Davidson.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Sapienter si sincere. A very neat plate. The wreath has not the proper twisted effect, but appears more like a row of eggs than an heraldic wreath.

208. Davis. Davis.

Plain armorial. Motto, Auspice Christo.

209. Day. John Day.

Plain armorial. Signed, J. Smithers. Sculp. Of Philadelphia.

210. Day. M. W. Day.

Pictorial. A collection of literary property is grouped in an open space where the rising sun shines strongly; the name is given upon a ribbon which floats above; from it depends a lamp; to the right, a book-case; to the left, a bust of Franklin, a large globe, books, ink-pot and quills; in front, an unrolled parchment which purports to be a list of books. The following motto: —

’Tis education forms the common mind,Just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined.

Signed, W. Chapin del & Sc.

211. Deane. John Deane.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. No motto. Name on motto-ribbon.

212. De Blois. Lew’s. De Blois.

Armorial. Jacobean. No motto. Signed, Nathaniel Hurd Sculp. The mantling is well conceived but rudely engraved; the shell-lined background is here, and the curtain upheld at the corners, on which the name is given. The whole appearance of the plate shows it to be quite early, and among the first attempts of Hurd.

213. De Blois. N.J. De Blois.

Armorial. Jacobean, with handsome mantling. Motto, Je me fie en Dieu. “These arms are assumed by some members of the family of this name living in Newport, R.I. The first of the name in America was born in Fort George, N.Y., some time before the Revolution; his descendants in New York and Newport carried on a great hardware business with their parents in England, but when the troubles occurred they became Tories and left the country. Some of the wax seals on their old letters bear the impression of a Moor’s head, which may have been correct. Others had either the conceit or ignorance to assume the armorial bearings of the famous and noble family of Châtillon of France, which historical race became extinct in 1762. As, during the 14th century some members of the Châtillons were Comtes de Blois, this title, extinct in 1364, over 500 years ago, is most unwarrantably used as if it were the family name, and the Châtillon arms adopted in a most extraordinary way, reversing the ordinary way of acquiring arms; so audacious and arrogant is the assumption and so sublime the impudence it entitles the fact to a high place in the Curiosities of Heraldry.” (These notes are found accompanying the copy of the plate in the collection of the late Mr. James Eddy Mauran.) This plate is apparently copied from the one by Hurd, and as that is much earlier, it may be that the assumption of the arms was due to him instead of to the later users, who simply copied what appeared to be the legitimate plate and arms of an ancestor.

214. Dedham. Library of the “Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Societies for the Study of the Sacred Scriptures.” Dedham, (Ms).

The above inscription is printed from type within an oval frame which is cut on wood; elongated cornucopiæ extend their blossoms above and around the central panel; above in a small frame a lute and some music books.

215. Denny. William Denny.

Armorial. Motto, Et mea messis erit. Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania.

216. De Peyster. Frederick De Peyster.

Armorial. A plain, heart-shaped shield supported by two eagles on palm branches, which are crossed under the shield and extend upwards on either side. No motto. Signed, P. R. Maverick Sct. Of New York. Illustrated in “Art Amateur,” February, 1894.

217. Derby. Martha Derby.

The name printed within a border of flowers and sprays. A group of musical instruments above.

218. Dering. Nicoll H. Dering.

Armorial. No motto. The Thomas Dering plate by Hurd, with the name altered.

219. Dering. Thomas Dering.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Signed, N. Hurd Sculp 1749. This is the earliest plate by an American engraver which is both signed and dated. But one copy is known at this writing. Illustrated in “Curio,” page 14.

220. Dering. Thomas Dering.

Crest only, enclosed within a circular ring. The half-date 17 — is given. Resembles the work of Hurd somewhat.

221. De Witt. Richard Varick De Witt.

A small pictorial plate, representing Minerva standing helmeted and with spear and shield in hand. On some copies of this plate the following additional inscription is found engraved, From his uncle Richard Varick.

222. Dexter. Samuel Dexter’s. MDCCLXXXV.

A printed label, with a border of ornamental type. Eminent lawyer and statesman. Secretary of War 1800, and Secretary of the Treasury, 1801.

223. Dill. John E. Dill. Boston.

A name-label in which the name is printed within a border made up of ornamental type, although it does not look so at first glance. The back of the design resembles a brick wall; the frame is made up of bouquets in holders, hearts, and an assortment of odds and ends.

224. Dinwiddie. Rob’t. Dinwiddie.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Ubi libertas ibi patria. Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia, 1751-1758. See “Ex Libris Journal,” Vol. II, pages 89, 125.

225. Dolbeare. Benjamin Dolbeare of Boston in New England. Oxford. Printed at the Clarendon Printing House. October 6, 1739.

A very large printed label, with three rows of ornamental type border, between which the following is printed, “The Noble Art and Mystery of PRINTING was first Invented by JOHN GUTTENBERG of Mentz, a City of Germany in the YEAR 1440 and brought into ENGLAND by JOHN ISLIP of London in the year of our LORD 1471.” This is very like the plate of Martha Bartlett, illustrated in “The Book-plate Collectors’ Miscellany,” page 20. See note from Mr. Tuer in same, page 29. There was an Edward Dolbier in the Boston Tea-party, 16th December, 1773.

226. Dove. Doct. I. Dove. Richmond. Virga.

Armorial. Crest only. A dove ppr. holding an olive branch in her bill. Motto, Deus providebit. The design is completed by a festoon and crossed branches in Ribbon and Wreath style. Signed, Brooks Sculp. The Doct. Cabell plate was evidently the work of this same engraver.

227. Dove. Samuel E. Dove. Richmond. Va.

Pictorial. The dove with the olive branch in her bill flies past mountains with water at their foot. Motto, Ab initio Deus providebit, on a circular garter enclosing the picture.

228. Drayton. Drayton, South Carolina.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Non nobis solum.

229. Drayton. Jacob Drayton, South Carolina.

The same copper as the above with the first name added.

230. Drayton. Wm. Drayton, Middle Temple.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Non nobis solum. A smaller plate than the preceding, with the same arms. The name and address are given in a bracket bordered with scrolls and foliations. A jurist of South Carolina and Florida.

231. Drayton. William Henry Drayton.

Armorial. Statesman. Born at Drayton Hall-on-the-Ashley, near Charleston, S.C., 1742; died, 1779.

232. Duane. James Duane. Esqr.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Nulli praeda. Signed, H. D. fect. The usual pictorial elements of Dawkins’ style are here introduced. The prim shepherdess and attendant swain on one side of the shield, and a lonely young girl singing to herself by a fountain, to the music of her guitar; her home cannot be far away as she wears no hat and is in décolleté attire. Of New York. Statesman. Member of the Old Congress. Illustrated in “Art Amateur,” March, 1894.

233. Dudley. Joseph Dudley 1754.

Armorial. Early English. The mantling is very full, curling upwards as well as downward and completely envelopes the shield. It is the common type of denticulated mantling, but not so elegant as some examples. Motto, Nec gladio nec arcu. The name appears on the usual scroll beneath the shield. Of the family of the Governor of the colony of Massachusetts. This date, 1754, was added by Hurd, and is much later than the actual date of the plate.

234. Duer. E Libris Gul. Alex. Duer.

Plain armorial. Motto, Esse et videri. Of New York. Brother-in-law of Beverly Robinson. President of Columbia College from 1829 to 1842. Son of following.

235. Duer. Willm. Duer. Esq.

Armorial in form. Crest only. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Esse quam videri. Attributed to Maverick: the frame strongly resembles the Maturin Livingston. The name is on the shield. Born, 1747. Delegate to Continental Congress.

236. Dumaresque. Philip Dumaresque.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Signed, N. Hurd. Sculp. One of the first officers of old Trinity Church in Boston.

237. Dummer. Jer. Dummer Anglus Americanus.

Armorial. Early English. No motto. In the diary of John Hull, the coiner of the early specie of Massachusetts, the following entry is found: “1659. 1st of 5th. I received into my house Jeremie Dummer and Samuel Paddy, to serve me as apprentices eight years.” In the “Heraldic Journal” we learn that Jeremiah Dummer was a goldsmith. Married in 1672 Hannah Atwater. He was the father of Governor William Dummer, and of Jeremiah Dummer the younger, the probable owner of this plate, who was Massachusetts agent in England, 1710-1721.

238. Duncan. James H. Duncan.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Disce pati. Very crude work.

239. Dunkin. Robert Henry Dunkin.

Armorial. Motto, Disce pati. Signed, I. H. (Hutt.) Of Philadelphia.

240. Dunning. Charles E. Dunning.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Semper paratus. Foliage, roses and a griffin in the ornamentation.

241. Dunning. Charles S. Dunning.

Armorial. Impaling Wijnkoop. Chippendale. (Late.) Motto, Semper paratus. More elaborate design than the above.

242. Durand. John Durand. Esqr.

Armorial. Chippendale. Very fine. Presumably by the brother of Asher B. Durand, who was a fine engraver. A medallion beneath the shield shows cupids in a corn-field.

243. Duvall. E Bibliotheca Gabrielis Duvall. A.D. 1778.

The name printed from type within a woodcut border, in which thirteen stars form a patriotic allusion. Signed, T. S. (Sparrow.) Of Huguenot descent. Born in Maryland, 1752. Jurist and Federal officer.

244. Dyckman. Dyckman.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. The crossed branches are under the shield, and its edge is embellished with close festooning. J. G. written before the name. Motto, Zyt bestindig. Illustrated in “Art Amateur,” April, 1894.

245. Dyckman. States Morris Dyckman.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Zyt bestendig.

246. East Windsor. Miscellaneous Literary Association, East Windsor.

Allegorical. Minerva in repose. A Greek mask near by.

247. Edwards. Bryan Edwards Esqr. Greenwich Park, Jamaica.

Armorial. Chippendale. Very ornate. Motto, Nosce te ipsum. Signed, Ashby Sculp, Russel Court, London. Historian, and wealthy merchant in Jamaica.

248. Edwards. Charles Edwards.

Plain armorial. Motto, The North against the World. Lawyer and author of New York. Born in 1797.

249. Edwards. Isaac Edwards. North Carolina.

Armorial.

250. Elam. Samuel Elam. Rhode Island.

Armorial. Pictorial. A bit of landscape is introduced, and the shield hangs from a ring around the bole of a shattered oak. A very pretty design and well engraved, reminding one somewhat of the book-plates by Bewick.

251. Eliot. William H. Eliot.

Armorial. Crest only, within an oval garter on which is given the motto, Non nobis solum.

252. Ellery. Benjamin Ellery.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Of New York. The same plate is found bearing the name Harrison Ellery.

253. Elliott. Barnard Elliott.

Plain armorial. Colonel in the Revolution. Signed, P. R. Maverick.

254. Elliston. Robert Elliston Gent. Comptrolr. of his Majesties Customs of New York in America.

Armorial. Jacobean. A very handsome plate indeed, engraved in an excellent manner. The shield is set against a diapered background, and the ornamental moulding of the side is lined with shell-work; the shield rests upon an upturned shell, and two eagles have alighted upon the upper arms. The motto, Bono vince malum, is given upon a ribbon under the frame, and there is no curtain or scroll to receive the inscription, which is engraved plainly in three lines beneath all.

255. Elliston. Robert Elliston Gent. Comptrolr. of his Majestie’s Customs of New York in America.

This is very similar to the preceding, but is a trifle larger, and in some respects superior. As before, the shield is placed within the enfolding arms of a Jacobean frame, but the diapered pattern is succeeded by an all-over shell pattern, and a grinning canephoros head supports the shield. On a ribbon above the crest the date is given, M.DCC.XXV. The motto, Bono vince malum, as before, is on its ribbon under the frame. Again the usual curtain is omitted and the inscription is engraved in three lines below all, with a little more attention to grammatical marks, and in bolder type. The eagles have disappeared. The copy before me has the following in handwriting: —His gift to the library of St. Georges’ Ch: in … Queens County province of New York. 1730. Illustrated in “Curio,” page 65.

256. Emerson. William Emerson.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. The work looks very much like Callender’s. Motto, Fidem servabo. Father of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

257. Erasmus Hall. Erasmus Hall Library.

Allegorical. Signed, Maverick Sculpt New York. The plate is divided into two sections: the upper one is enclosed within a circular frame, and contains the allegorical picture. Diana is seen in the foreground directing the attention of a youth to the glories revealed upon the heights above them. Two temples are seen which bear dedications to Fame and to Virtue. Surrounded by clouds the angel of Fame is even now appearing above her sacred fane. The implements of study are at the foot of the youth, and under this scene are the words, FORTITER! ASCENDE. The lower part of the design is simply a wreath enclosing the name. The Erasmus Hall Library belonged to an Academy which was founded at Flatbush, L.I., in 1786.

258. Erving. William Erving. Esqr.

Plain armorial. Mottoes, Quo fata vocant, and Flourish in all weathers. Signed, Callender Sct. Undoubtedly of the Boston family of Loyalists.

259. Erving. (Anonymous.)

Plain armorial. Quartering, “Ar. an eagle displayed sa. within a border invected of the last.” The first and third quarters are the Irvine arms.

260. Eustace. Colonel John Skey Eustace, State of New York.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, In hoc signo vinces. The arms are not correct, as one cross-crosslet is missing, and it is not certain that the crest which hangs in unusual style on a plate, from the festoon, belongs to this family. The crest is balanced by a plate on the other side of the shield, on which a letter E is engraved. The whole is contained within an elongated wreath. The name appears above the shield following the curve of the wreath, and at the bottom two additional lines in Latin serve as another motto, Ignotis errare locis, ignota videre, Flumina gaudebat: studio minuente laborem. A variant of the above, – the same copper altered, – gives this motto in place of In hoc signo vinces, – Sans Dieu rien. A Revolutionary officer whose bravery was recognized by Congress.

261. Evarts. Jeremiah Evarts.

A simple name-label with the motto under the name and a festoon of cloth above it. Motto, Nil sine magno vita labore dedit mortalibus. Father of the Senator.

262. Everdell. William Everdell.

Armorial in form, though no real arms are shown. Motto, Semper paratus. The four quarters of the shield are occupied with implements of the draughtsman’s art. Of New York.

263. Everett. Edward Everett.

Plain armorial. Motto, Patria veritas fides. Scholar and orator. Born, 1780; died, 1851.

264. Ewing. Ewing. (John.)

Armorial. Chippendale. A very porky lamb, books, two cooing doves, and a quadrant are introduced into the framework. Motto, Audacter. A Philadelphia clergyman.

265. Fairfax. Bryan Fairfax.

Armorial. Motto, Fare fac. Eighth and last baron; friend of Washington.

266. Farmington. Library in the First Society in Farmington.

A large engraved label.

267. Farmington. This Book belongs to Monthly Library in Farmington.

Allegorical. Signed, M. Bull’s & T. Lee’s Sculp. A large plate in which the Laws and the names with the attendant flourishes take a good deal of the space. In the centre a shelf of books separates two groups of figures. At the right a very stiff youth, in the court costume of the period, with wig, ruffles, and buckled shoes, is seen under the guidance of a portly female figure who impersonates Wisdom.

She appears to be warning the youth of the dangers of pursuing the two sirens who beam at him across the shelf; or else they are meant to represent the sources of Knowledge, and the youth is being conducted to them. As Deacon Bull was not a great engraver we may be pardoned if we do not clearly understand his allegory. However, the LAWS of the Library are very plain, and are neatly engraved under the row of books mentioned.