handling of books, with a warning of the sad result of declining Wisdom’s guidance, or with an invitation to enjoy the beauties of literature and to share the benefits of careful reading. In addition to these mere typographical adjuncts an opportunity is offered for the display of those more decorative garnishments which have led to the development of the handsomer styles of plates. [Illustration: _Hannah Reynolds._] _Alexander Stedman’s: Thomas Thaxter’s, 1791: William W. Potter’s Book: Aaron Woolworth’s, Ex Dono Rev. S. Buell, D.D._ These plates use the possessive case, are embellished with borders of ornamental type, and supply some further information by showing the date of their being used, or by naming the giver of the volumes. Other styles of expressing book-ownership are afforded by the following: _Nicolas Pike His Book 1768_: _Hannah Adams, Medfield 179-_: _The Property of John Clap, Roxbury 1791_: _Davidis Dickinson Liber, A.D. 1796_: _Lieut. E. Trenchard, U. S. Navy_: _Simeon Baldwin, Owner_: _Ex Libris I. G. Thomas_: _Library T. W. Curtis, No._: _Belonging to the Library of Thomas Forrest Betton, Germantown Pa._: _The Property of John Weld native of Pomfret, Conn. Resident of Pomfret, Bo’t of Mr. James Steele of Hartford, January 12, 1796_: _W. Lewis, Ejus Liber_: _Johann Christoph Kunze, Prediger in Philadelphia_: _Emmanuel Jones e Coll; Gul; et Ma: 1756_. [Illustration: THOMÆ HOLT.] These old type-set labels with their quaint borders of ornamental type,--scrolls, flourishes, stars, vines, and even grammatical signs,--are usually found to be printed on good white handmade paper, which was seldom trimmed with care; occasionally a tinted paper is found,--yellow more often than any other, but sometimes a blue or green; these served the less pretentious of our ancestors in lieu of the coats-of-arms and family mottoes of those of higher lineage, and are found in quantities throughout the New England and Middle States: even farther south they are not uncommon, but are not so numerous. [Illustration: JOHN CAMPBELL, Charles County.] In making up these ornamental borders the type was usually set in the form of a parallelogram, occasionally in a square, oval, circle, or diamond, and seldom in fanciful shapes. The most ambitious plate of this kind which has come under my observation is that which once graced the books of Mary McGinley; this is a rather large plate, and the type is set in the form of an urn, within the lines of which are given the motto and the owner’s name.