I have therefore attempted to embody all the principal facts to be gleaned from these authorities with the information derived from my own collection, so as to produce a succinct history of French book-plates from 1574 (the year named on the first known dated French book-plate) to the present day. In the alphabetical list of artists and engravers will be found such a concentration of information useful to collectors as does not exist in any other work on the subject. Heraldic details have been avoided as far as possible, yet some little space has necessarily been devoted to the explanation of the principal differences between the systems of the two nations, in order to enable a collector of French book-plates to understand certain peculiarities either not to be found on British armorial bearings, or conveying a different meaning to that ascribed to them in British heraldry. Of the illustrations, many have been reproduced from rare old examples, whilst those of modern date are of interest, either on account of the fame of their artists, or their owners, or for the beauty or quaintness of their design. As the majority are dated specimens, they have an educational value in representing the styles of heraldry and of ornamentation in vogue at the various periods during the last three centuries. To Dr. Bouland, President of the French Society, I am greatly indebted for the loan of several interesting reproductions, and my thanks are also due to Messieurs Aglaüs Bouvenne, Henry André, L. Joly, Léon Quantin, le Père Ingold, and other artists and owners of book-plates for their kind permission to reproduce them here. A final tribute of gratitude remains to be paid to one who shares all my labours, or my cares, and adds that charm to life that makes success worth striving for. Every line in this little book has passed under her eyes, for revision or correction, and I would pray: “Untouch’d with any shade of years, May those kind eyes forever dwell! They have not shed a many tears, Dear eyes, since first I knew them well.” WALTER HAMILTON. “ELLARBEE,” Clapham Common, Surrey. _October_, 1896. [Illustration: BOOK-PLATE OF J. B. MICHAUD, 1791.] CONTENTS. PAGE CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL HISTORICAL EVENTS HEREIN ALLUDED TO. 1 Chapter I. INTRODUCTION 5 II. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION 21 III. A FEW NOTES ON FRENCH HERALDRY 39 IV. EARLY EXAMPLES, 1574-1650 62 V. EX-LIBRIS, 1650-1700 77 VI. EX-LIBRIS, 1700-1789 84 VII. THE FIRST REPUBLIC 109