JACOB HURD, the father of Nathaniel, was a goldsmith of Boston, and his name is on pieces of plate in the First and Second churches in Boston, and the First Church, and Christ Church, in Dorchester. He very probably made book-plates, though no signed work is known. He died in 1758. He appears in the list of subscribers to “Prince’s Chronological History of New England,” as taking six copies. In the “Boston Evening Post,” for March 4, 1745, the following advertisement appears:-- “FRANCIS GARDEN, Engraver from London, engraves in the newest Manner and at the cheapest Rates, Coats-of-Arms, Crests or Cyphers on Gold, Silver, Pewter or Copper. To be heard of at Mr. Caverley’s, Distiller, at the South End of Boston. N.B. He will wait on any Person in Town or Country, to do their Work at their own House, if desired: also copper-plate printing perform’d by him.” No signed example of this gentleman’s work has thus far come to our knowledge. It is fair to presume, however, that he engraved book-plates. [Illustration: “QUI CONTENTUS FELIX”] A LIST OF EARLY AMERICAN BOOK-PLATES. The following List of Early American Book-plates makes no claim to completeness: indeed it is earnestly hoped and believed that time will prove it to be quite incomplete: old plates new to collectors are continually coming to light, and there is every reason to expect their number to increase. We are persuaded that certain of the worthies of colonial times used book-plates, although no copies are now known, and that some future investigator will unearth these much-desired treasures. Some plates will be found included which do not have a satisfactory description: this is due to their not being seen by the compiler of the List: correspondents at a distance cannot always send full details, and without them it is better to attempt little in the way of description. The aim has been to be accurate and as full as possible. There are hundreds of simple name-labels which have no place here, but all armorial examples which could be discovered are mentioned. The plates are given in alphabetical order, and are numbered for convenience in reference. As far as possible, the first line of the description of each plate gives the exact wording of the original, with its spelling and abbreviations: the mottoes also, as well as the manner of signature, are given exactly as they appear on the original plate: wherever throughout this List _italics_ are used, they denote the exact language employed upon the plate. 1. ANONYMOUS. Armorial. A very beautiful plate with French arms: a crown above and military trophies behind the shield: French banners, cannon, quivers of arrows, anchor, horns, swords, drum, tomahawks, bugle, lances, etc. Signed, _Maingot delt. Maverick_, _Sct._ [Illustration: Richard C. Lichtenstein.] [Illustration] 2. ABERCROMBIE. _James Abercrombie._