American Book-Plates: A Guide to Their Study with Examples — John Shaqi
American Book-Plates: A Guide to Their Study with ExamplesAllen, Charles Dexter
History
American Book-Plates: A Guide to Their Study with Examples
Allen, Charles Dexter
Bookplates -- Bibliography; Bookplates, American
The interesting question of the probable engraver of the plate has
arisen, and in a most readable article from the pen of Mr. R. C.
Lichtenstein, in the “Curio,” on the Library of Washington, the
following opinion is advanced: “It was his [Washington’s] habit as a
general rule to write his name on the right-hand corner of the
title-page and place inside his book-plate. It has been a matter of
uncertainty as to whether that book-plate was engraved in England or in
this country. Washington, like other Virginia gentlemen before the
Revolution, was in the habit of ordering goods every year from London;
but we have searched the various orders to his agents in London, and
examined as far as practicable the items of his household expenses,
without finding any such item. The strongest argument that can be said
in its favor proving it to be American work is the poor heraldry
displayed in its coat-of-arms, general make-up, and drawing. It will be
noticed that the engraver has placed a wreath under the crown (an
absolute heresy), and this, with the faulty drawing of the raven, makes
the whole plate a very slovenly piece of work. No engraver with any
knowledge of the fundamental laws of heraldry would be guilty of drawing
such a coat-of-arms as this. The arms of Washington engraved on his seal
and ring, undoubtedly cut in England, are correctly done. It seems more
than probable, if the plate had been done in England that the engraver
would not have been guilty of making such blunders. We have seen a great
many English plates, but have never noticed one bearing these
peculiarities. From its general appearance we should say that the plate
was made in America somewhere between the years 1777 and 1781.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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