[Illustration: EX LIBRIS. JULIA DEXTER COFFIN] The plate of _Mrs. Julia Dexter Coffin_, of Windsor Locks, Conn., was designed and is used wholly for books of music, or in her library of musical literature. The scene is within the choir of some temple. A flood of light enters the lofty apartment from the open door at the far end of the wall, and the small diamond panes of the large window reveal nothing of the outside world. Seated upon the stone bench, in the foreground, clad in classic robes, a member of the chorus, inspired by some longing, has come alone, to pour forth her feelings in song. The lyre in her hands is of old and ornamental design. Behind her, upon the wall, runs a dado on which the sacred dance is pictured; and above this a large mural painting can be seen. In the niche by the door stands a statue of Terpischore. The sound of the music seems to fill the room. Purely decorative, and having no particular meaning beyond illustrating the motto, is the plate of _Ophelia Fowler Duhme_. The motto, _Inter folia fructas_, is given at the top of the plate, and the strawberry plant, bearing both flower and fruit, fills the whole space below. Two Cupids disport themselves among sweet roses, in the plate of _Frances Louise Allen_. In the plate of _Margaret M. Miller_, a cherub, with the hair in a Psyche knot, sits upon a closed book, and inscribes the names of the “Immortals” upon a scroll. In the plate of _Miss Ada Stewart Shelton_, of Derby, Conn., the motto, _Plus penser que dire_, is given with the name and a single pansy blossom within a rectangular frame which has pansies at each corner. In the plate of _Mary Bayliss_, we have a frame of Chippendale tendency. The scrolls are edged with shell-work, and the flowers are free and natural. Very interesting and successful work in designing and engraving book-plates is now being done by Mr. E. D. French, of New York City, Mr. E. H. Garrett, of Winchester, Mass., and by Mr. W. F. Hopson, of New Haven, Conn., all of whom are represented in this volume by prints from the original coppers. [Illustration] [Illustration: FRANCIS · WILSON] AMERICAN COLLECTORS AND COLLECTIONS. [Illustration: C]ollectors of book-plates are not very numerous in the United States; but, small as their number is, it has reached the present figure almost at a bound, for we now count about seventy, who are collecting, while, four years ago, there were scarcely a score. A survey of our collections shows that all are particularly interested to collect American plates. The early American examples are few, and daily becoming scarcer, as the search for them grows hotter, and the competition between prospective owners increases.