American Book-Plates

Below these stringent rules the following verse is given: —

The Youth, who, led by WISDOM’S guiding Hand,Seeks VIRTUE’S Temple, and her Laws Reveres:He, he alone, in HONOUR’S Dome shall Stand,Crown’d with Rewards, & rais’d above his Peers.

The design is very ambitious, but is rather poor in execution.

268. Farmington. Village Library.

Library Interior. A young lady, very prim, and exceptionally neat and austere in her virtuous demeanor, sits upright in a chair beside a table, on which a few books are laid, and an ink-pot with the quill in it. An open case of books on the wall, a closed writing-desk under it, and a print of Washington complete the furniture of the room. Out of the window can be seen the inspiring sight of a steep hill, upon the summit of which the pillared Temple of Honor stands.

The following verse is given: —

Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll:Charms strike the sense, but merit wins the soul.

Also of Farmington, Conn.

269. Fauquier. Francis Fauquier. Esqr.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia from 1758 to his death in 1768. Regarded by Jefferson as the ablest executive of Virginia. Illustrated in “Art Amateur,” May, 1894.

270. Fendall. Philip Richard Fendall.

Armorial. Arms very doubtful. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Esse quam videri.

271. Fenwick. Fenwick.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Perit ut vivat. Signed, J. Smither. Sc. A plate showing fertility of design in the engraver, but not much skill with the burin.

272. Fish. Hamilton Fish. Stuyvesant Square New York.

Plain armorial. Mantling. Motto, Deus dabit. Governor of New York State, 1849-1851.

273. Fisher. Joshua Fisher.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. No motto, name on motto-ribbon. Native of Delaware. A leading merchant of Philadelphia during the Revolution.

274. Fitzhugh. (Anonymous.)

Plain armorial. Motto, Pro patria semper. Of Virginia.

275. Fitzhugh. Willm. Fitzhugh Junr.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Pro patria semper. Of Virginia.

276. Foot. Ebenezer Foot.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Signed, Maverick. Sct. Of New York.

277. Foote. Ebenezer Foote. Plain armorial. No motto.

278. Foote. Foote.

Plain armorial. No motto. The name John P. is written in before the family name on the copy at hand.

279. Forbes. Eli Forbes.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Omni fortunae paratus. Signed, T. M. Furnass, St. This is the only specimen so far discovered of the work of this engraver, who was a nephew and pupil of Hurd. The owner was Chaplin in the army of the Revolution and a missionary to the Indians. (1800.)

280. Forman. Forman.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Deo et amicitiae. An officer of the Revolutionary army. Had an estate named “Rose Hill,” in Maryland.

281. Foster.

A plate of this family name is owned in Boston, but no information concerning it can be obtained. It is said to be the work of Furnass.

282. Foster. Isaac Foster.

Armorial. Jacobean. Motto, Mille mali salutis habeo, species mille. Signed, N. Hurd. Scpt.

283. Fowler. C. Fowler.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. No motto. Name on motto-ribbon. A small plate. Of Rhode Island.

284. Fownes. From the Library of the late Rev. Joseph Fownes, of Shrewsbury, 1790.

A printed label.

285. Foxcroft. John Foxcroft.

Armorial. Of Boston.

286. Francis. John Francis.

Plain armorial. Motto, Manet amicitia florebit que semper. Signed, Callender Sculp.

287. Franklin. John Franklin Boston New England.

Armorial. Jacobean. Motto, Exemplum adest ipse homo. Signed, J. Turner Sculp. The shield rests upon a very elaborately ornamented frame, the background of which is covered with a diaper pattern. As supporters, Artemis, the goddess of the moon, with spear and arrow in hands appears upon the left hand, and Apollo, likewise with spear, attends upon the right. Both are represented with the lower part of the figure diminishing into a vase, in the manner of the Termini. They stand upon an ornamental bracket which encloses a sketch of Diana sounding the hunter’s horn, while an attendant unleashes the hound. The points upon which the figures of Artemis and Apollo rest are supported by female busts in profile. The whole design is very ornate, and the plate is perhaps the rarest of our early Americans. John Franklin was the brother of Benjamin of greater fame.

288. Franklin Institute. Library of the Franklin Institute.

Portrait plate. A very fine portrait of Benjamin Franklin enclosed in a typical picture-frame of the day.

289. Fraunces. Andrew G. Fraunces.

Armorial. Mantle of estate. Motto, Procurator industria. Signed, in the flourishes under the owner’s name, Maverick Scp. An unusual style for Maverick.

290. Freeman. Nathaniel Freeman.

Armorial in form, but no arms displayed. The shield hangs upon a dwarfed tree, and has the initials N. F. in cipher upon it. A long ribbon trails on the ground and over the shield and tree, bearing the motto, וראת וחררו דאשיו דעת.

291. French. Jonathan French.

Armorial. Late Chippendale. Motto-ribbon empty. Of Massachusetts.

292. Gallatin. Gallatin.

Plain armorial. Motto, Persevere. This is the plate of Albert Gallatin (1761-1849), the statesman. He is said to have adopted this motto in place of the family motto.

293. Gallaudet. Gallaudet.

Plain armorial. Motto, Ut quiescas labora. Not signed, but engraved by Edward Gallaudet.

294. Gardiner. By the name of Gardiner.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto, the name occupying the motto-ribbon. This is the plate of John-Lion, the seventh proprietor of Gardiner’s Island, who was born November 8, 1770, and who died November 22, 1816. The arms are the same as those of John Gardiner, but the tinctures differ; the bugle-horns are gules in this plate, and sable in the other. This plate is also found with the autograph of David, the eighth and last proprietor, under the will of Mary, the widow of Lion.

295. Gardiner. John Gardiner.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto-ribbon empty. This is the plate of the fifth proprietor of Gardiner’s Island. Born, 1714; died, 1764.

296. Gardiner. John Gardiner of the Inner Temple.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Pro patria mori. A witty and eloquent lawyer of Boston.

297. Gardiner. Samuel Gardiner.

Plain armorial. No motto. Of the Maine family.

298. Garnett. John Garnett.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto-ribbon empty. No crest.

299. Georgetown College. Georgetown College.

Pictorial. An eagle just rising from the stump of a tree carries a ribbon floating in his beak, on which the legend, Presented to the P. Society Library. Motto above, Lex libertas salusque gentis.

300. Georgetown College. Collegium Georgiopolitanum, ad ripas Potamaci in Marylandia.

The American eagle displays the shield of our country on his breast; one talon is upon a globe, the other grasps a cross. The motto, Utraque unum, is given upon a ribbon which flutters from the beak of the eagle. Above, in a blaze of glory, an ancient lyre is seen. Branches of oak rise on either side of the design.

301. Ghiton. William R. Ghiton. 1718.

Armorial.

302. Gibbes. Edmund A. Gibbes.

Plain armorial. No motto. Of South Carolina.

303. Gibbes. James S. Gibbes.

Plain armorial. Motto, Amor vincit naturae. Of Charleston, S.C.

304. Gibbs. John Walters Gibbs.

Armorial. A very peculiar frame showing Jacobean, Chippendale, and Ribbon and Wreath features. No motto. Crude work.

305. Gibbs. John Walters Gibbs. Charleston. So. Carolina.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Beware my edge, in reference to the battle-axes of shield and crest. Signed, Abernethie Sculpt. The edge of the shield is close-trimmed with festooning, and tall vases rest upon the scrolls at the sides.

306. Gibs. James Gibs.

Armorial. Of New York. Signed by Maverick.

307. Giles. Daniel Giles.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Toujours le même.

308. Giles. James Giles.

Armorial. Military trophies with slight Ribbon and Wreath ornamentation. Motto, Libertas et patria mea. Signed, Maverick Sculp. Behind the shield a plentiful supply of munitions of war are arranged. The flags of the United States and of England, swords, pikes, lances, muskets, bayonets, cannon in the act of discharging, trumpets, drums, wormers, ramrods, cleaners, piles of cannon-balls, and kegs of powder are in the assortment.

309. Gilmer. Armorial. Of Virginia.

310. Gilpin. Henry D. Gilpin.

Pictorial. The arms are carved upon a large fragment of the adjacent ruins, and which lies at the base of a broken column. The ribbon under the shield bears the motto, Dictis factisque simplex. A large tree rises behind the broken column and cuts off the view, but a part of a castle is visible, and between it and the fore view a knight on horseback assisted by one on foot is chasing a wild boar, which is a plain reference to the charge on the shield. Signed, C. G. Childs. Attorney-General of the United States. 1840-1841.

311. Gilpin. Henry D. Gilpin.

A plate so nearly identical with the preceding as to be taken for it without close examination. This plate is not signed.

312. Gilpin. (Anonymous.)

The plate of John Gilpin, English Consul at Newport. Motto, Dictis factisque simplex.

313. Goelet. John Goelet.

Armorial. Jacobean. A beautiful example. No motto. Not signed, but probably by Maverick.

314. Goodwin. George Goodwin.

Pictorial. A bracket of graceful design and ornamentation supports two substantial piles of books, between which ensconced in branches of flowers and holding a lyre in his hands, sits a pleasant-faced cupid. Attributed to Doolittle. Publisher of “The Courant,” Hartford, Conn.

315. Gorham. Joseph Gorham.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Par espérance et activité nous surmontons. Signed, W. Smith Sculp. At the right hand, standing on the name scroll, is an Indian with his feet upon a snake which is stretched at full length. The savage is in civilized clothing, and carries a tomahawk in his folded arms; behind him the ends of bows, arrows, quiver, and tomahawk stand out from behind the shield. On the other side is a British regular with drawn sword in his folded arms; for a background he has a powder-horn, drum, lances, and the British flag.

316. Gourgas. J^N. J^S. J^H. Gourgas.

Armorial. Apparently of French make. No motto. Signed, P. L. In the New York Directory of 1837, the name of John J. J. Gourgas is given; a merchant. This plate is from the same copper as the Jean Louis Gourgas, which is a French plate seen in several collections.

317. Gracie. Robert Gracie.

Crest only. Motto, God grant grace. Signed, Lewis Sculp. In the New York Directory of 1826 as a merchant.

318. Graeme. Elizabeth Graeme.

Armorial. The arms are in a lozenge with Chippendale ornamentation of exceeding gracefulness. No motto. Of Philadelphia. An accomplished woman in literature.

319. Graham. Henry Hale Graham.

Armorial. Signed, J. Smither sc. Eminent lawyer of Chester, Penn.

320. Graham. John A. Graham. M.D.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Ne oublie.

321. Grant… Grant. (First name erased.)

Plain armorial. Motto, Stand sure. Of Scottish descent.

322. Gray. Gray.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, In Deo fides. Probably by Callender.

323. Green. Francis Green.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Aestate hyeme que idem. A Boston merchant. Signed, N. Hurd Sculp.

324. Green. Garrett Greens’ Private Library. 809 Greenwich Street.

A printed label with the following motto, When we are deprived of friends we should look upon good books (they are true friends that will neither flatter nor dissemble:), and we should study to know ourselves. The borrower will please read and return this Book uninjured and without delay. Circa, 1822.

325. Green. John Green Jr. of Worcester.

A grotesque plate. The name is enclosed within a frame which is filled with mementoes of the dissecting room, and with various mottoes.

326. Greene. Benjamin Greene.

Armorial. Jacobean. Motto-ribbon empty. Signed, N. H. Scp. A very neat and pretty plate. A wealthy merchant of Boston; of a branch of the Rhode Island family.

327. Greene. Benjamin Greene. 1757.

The same copper as the above but with the date 1757 added beneath the name; this was probably placed there some time subsequent to the date of engraving, although very likely the correct date. Signature unchanged. Illustrated in “Art Amateur,” April, 1894.

328. Greene. B. D. Greene.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. No motto. A small plate, very neat in appearance.

329. Greene. David Greene.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Nec timeo nec sperno. Signed, Revere scp. Of Massachusetts.

330. Greene. Thomas Greene Junr.

Armorial. Jacobean. Motto, Study to know thyself. Signed, N. Hurd Scp. Very similar to the plate of Benjamin Greene.

331. Greenleaf. William Greenleaf.

Armorial. Signed, N. Hurd. Scp.

332. Greenough. The Property of David Stoddard Greenough.

A printed name label with borders of ornamental type. The motto, Return what thou borrowest, with the most sacred punctuality, and withhold it not, is printed between the borders. A woodcut pattern of festooning and sprays of flowers encloses the whole. Signed, William Greenough fecit.

333. Greenwood. Isaac Greenwood.

Pictorial. An anchor enclosed within a circular frame which bears the name; slight foliations within the frame. Resembles an old printer’s mark somewhat.

334. Griggs. A. Griggs Philadelphia.

Pictorial. In a position quite impossible to imagine outside of the picture, are three books thrown upon a huge rock, holding a scroll outspread, which hangs down over a rushing brook. Indeed, one corner of the scroll dips into the water; a few brushes and stunted or dead trees complete the landscape. This is a woodcut in the style of Anderson.

335. Guilford Library. Guilford Library.

Literary. Motto, Improve your hours for they never return. A shelf of books very similar to that in the plate of George Goodwin, has a cloth festoon looped above it; the motto is on a circle enclosing the winged hourglass; the scroll-work above this is made into the form of a face. This plate closely resembles that of the Stepney Society, in Wethersfield, which is by Doolittle, and leads to the conclusion that this is also his work. In 1737 the towns of Guilford, Saybrook, Killingsworth, and Lyme formed a Library Association. It was dissolved a little before 1800, and Guilford formed one by itself: at about the same time the young people of the town started a library, and these two were united in 1823 and formed the Union Library whose plate is noticed below.

336. Guilford. Union Library.

Pictorial. The American eagle, with shield, olive branch, bunch of arrows, and the ribbon with the motto, E pluribus unum, is printed from a woodcut; the motto, Improve your hours for they never return, is printed from type beneath.

337. Guinaud. Henry Guinaud.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Sans venin. A bow and quiver of arrows and a Gainsborough hat with a stick thrust through it are seen in the ornamentation. The arms are peculiarly unpleasant, being a huge ten-legged scorpion printed very black. This is repeated in the crest. Of Baltimore.

338. Gurney. Henry Gurney. Esqr. Philadelphia.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto, Sperne successus alit.

339. Hale. Robert Hale Esqr of Beverly.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Signed, N. Hurd Scp. Prominent man in Massachusetts; under Pepperell at Louisburg. From this family of Hales came Nathan Hale.

340. Hall. James Hall.

Armorial. Chippendale. No motto. Not signed, but attributed to Turner. Lawyer and author of Philadelphia.

341. Hall. Thomas Hall. 1787.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Believed to be the first postmaster under Washington, in Charleston, S.C.

342. Hall. William Hall.

Armorial. Arms, Quarterly 1st and 4th, Sable, three talbot’s heads erased argent, collared gules, 2nd and 3rd, Sable, three leopard’s heads jessant-de-lys, orgeant. Crest, a talbot’s head erased sable.

343. Hallowell. Robert Hallowell.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. Motto-ribbon empty. This plate is not signed, but is probably the work of Callender. Comptroller of the Customs in Boston. A Loyalist whose home was mobbed. One of his sisters married Samuel Vaughn, whose plate impales the Hallowell arms.

344. Hamersley. J. W. Hamersley.

Plain armorial. Motto, Honore et amore. Signed, Faithorne. A New York lawyer.

345. Hamilton. William Hamilton.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. No motto. Of Pennsylvania. A Loyalist. Nephew of Governor James Hamilton. His country seat was “The Woodlands,” now the Woodland Cemetery of Philadelphia.

346. Hanchett. John Hanchett.

Armorial. Ribbon and Wreath. No motto. Taken from a book containing the autograph of the owner, with the date, Aug. 28, 1768, and the residence given as Hartford.

347. Harris. Alexander Harris, Architect, Boston.

An engraved label.

348. Harison. Richard Harison. Esqr.

Armorial. Chippendale. Motto, Nec te quaesiveris extra. A large plate, very pretty in appearance, but strange in the tincture of the arms. Of New York.

349. Harrison. Rich’d. Harrison.

Crest only. Motto, Nec te quaesiveris extra. A lambrequin looped up with cord and fasteners above. Signed, Rollinson Sculpt. Presumably belonging to the same owner as the last.

350. Hartford. Hartford Library Company.

An engraved name-label; the name within an oval frame, with a festoon of roses about it, and sprays of palm crossed beneath. Now the Hartford Public Library.

351. Harvard. Sigill: Coll: Harvard: Cantab: Nov: Angl: 1650.

Armorial. Signed, N. Hurd Sculp. Motto, Christo et ecclesia. The design is in the form of a seal, and is enclosed within branches of holly. Above all a ribbon bears the words, Detur digniori, showing the use and purpose of the plate to have been for insertion in books presented as prizes to the students. This is the earliest of the Harvard plates.

352. Harvard. Sigill: Coll: Harvard: Cantab: Nov: Angl: 1650.

Armorial. The arms of the college enclosed within a double circle which bears the inscription. The motto, Christo et ecclesia, is just inside the border. The framework is embellished with a profusion of fruit and flowers; in the place of the crest, a pile of three books with the sun in splendor above them;

on each side of the books two slender vases standing upon an upward curl of the ornamentation hold bouquets; below this whole design a gorgeous curtain is spread out to contain the name of the giver of the book; this is backed by a frame whose edge only is seen; this is elaborately scrolled, and is finished at the bottom with the canephoros head and shell pattern; two globes at the uppermost part, on either side, complete the decoration. Signed, N. Hurd Boston. Several plates are known very similar to this, but having different names upon the curtain. One of them has simply the words Ex Dono, with the curtain left blank for the writing of the giver’s name. Others have the name of donors of quantities of books engraved upon the curtain; among these are, Hancock and Thorndike.

353. Harvard. Sigill: Coll: Harvard: Cantab: Nov: Angl: 1650.

A very close copy of the above in all particulars; indeed, a fac-simile of it. Signed, A. Bowen. On some of them appear the name of Shapleigh, and on others, Ex Dono Samuelis A. Eliot.

354. Harvard. Sigill: Coll: Harvard: Cantab: Nov: Angl: 1650.

This is again a copy in the main of the plate by Hurd, but is later than the last. The ornamentation is similar to that used by Hurd, but is changed in some particulars; the canephoros head is replaced by a bunch of grapes, the sun is missing above the pile of books, and all the work has lost in beauty of execution. Signed, Andrew Filner. This plate is used to record the gifts of many persons, among them being: —

355. Harvard. Academiae Harvardianae Sigillum. 1638.

The arms of the college as usual, with the addition of the word Veritas upon the open books. This plate in its general design was suggested by the plate of Hurd, but is quite different in details. The curtain, simpler in make, is still here, and the shield is in the usual position, but the fruit and flowers are replaced by an august assemblage of the gods and goddesses who are the special patrons of learning. Signed, H. Billings del. C. G. Smith Sc.

356. Harvard College. Hasty Pudding Library.

Pictorial. Two Doric pillars uphold a large curtain which is looped at the top, and left plain in the centre for the writing in of donors’ names. Above this a circular frame encloses a picture of an iron pot, supposedly full of pudding, towards which two hands, one with a bowl in its clasp, and one holding a spoon, approach. The motto, Seges votis respondet, is given upon the frame. Directly under this is the date, 1808. Below the curtain a figure of the Sphynx is seen surrounded by books in curved shelves. The bases of the pillars bear the words, Concordia discors. Signed, Callender Sc. A Harvard College Society plate.

357. Harvard College. Porcellian Library.

A large and handsome curtain looped up with cord in large bow-knots is left as usual for the donors’ names; above it two small pillars with the Greek letters on their bases, Ὁμ Ἑλ; the pillars are joined by a chain which passes behind an oval medallion on which the clasped hands are shown; above this the circular frame bearing the name encloses the hog; the frame is ornamented with sprays of palm and roses, and a pile of three books, as so often in plates of Harvard College, form the crest. This plate is not signed, but it strongly resembles the work of Callender.

358. Harvard College. Porcellian Club. 1803.

Allegorical. Two stone pillars support a circular frame within which the hog is pictured. On the frame the name of the club is given; below hangs a poor curtain for the name of the donor of books; above are the arms surrounded by the grape-vine, and having books, a loving cup, lance, and foil grouped about. The motto across the face of the shield on a bend, Fide et Amicitia. Greek letters on the base of the pillars, Ὁμ Ἑλ.

359. Harvard College. Porcellian Library.

In this plate the curtain is suspended between two very tall amphoræ which rest upon books bearing the Greek letters Ὁμ Ἑλ upon their backs; behind the curtain two hogs disport themselves; the circular frame is above them and encloses the representation of a punch bowl, under which is the motto, Dum vivimus vivamus. Above all, the shield of arms with the motto on a bend, Fide et Amicitia, is graced by grape-vine branches, and the crossed lance and sword. Signed, F. Mitchell. Del.