Yet of all these Poulet-Malassis asserts that he has found but five whose plates are known at present, namely, those of Le Puy du Fou, Montchal, Auzoles de la Peyre, Jean Bigot, and the brothers Sainte-Marthe. Of the remaining one hundred and twenty no book-plates are known; that some amongst their number must have had them is reasonably certain. But where shall we find them, or shall we ever find them? _Mais où sont les neiges d’antan?_ [Illustration: NAMELESS ARMORIAL PLATE.] [Illustration] CHAPTER V. EXAMPLES OF EX-LIBRIS. FROM 1650 TO 1700 The plates of _André Felibien_, escuier, sieur des Avaux, seigneur de Iavercy, Historiographe du Roy, are notable as being dated 1650 and as marking the commencement of a transition period. The heraldic style begins to show variations; the mantling becomes less sumptuous and decorative, and the helmets are displaced by coronets, often usurped by those who have no right to them, either by birth, title, or estates. The shields change from the old square French shape to oval, surrounded by a framework, or a decorative cartouche. The fashion of resting the shield and supporters on a mosaic pavement, having a geometrical heraldic design, disappears, to be replaced by a small piece of landscape with grass and flowers, or the shield and supporters stand firmly on a square solid base resembling a flight of steps, or an architectural plinth. Of this transition period the most interesting plates are those recording, in the one case a gift, in the other a legacy, of valuable books to the College of Jesuits, in Paris, in 1692. [Illustration: BOOK-PLATE OF PIERRE DANIEL HUET.] These books had been collected by two of the most famous bibliophiles of the century, Pierre Daniel Huet, Evêque d’Avranches, and Gilles Ménage, Doyen de St. Pierre d’Angers. Bishop Huet chose to present his books during his lifetime (he survived the parting, and lived until 1721), and the gift was of great value, consisting as it did, of 8,312 volumes, besides many rare manuscripts. [Illustration: BOOK-PLATE OF ANDRÉ FELIBIEN, 1650.] The Jesuit fathers recorded their gratitude on ex-libris (in four sizes) of an appropriately rich character, carrying the arms of Bishop Huet. They went to less expense in showing their appreciation of the legacy of Ménage, perhaps because he was dead (he died July 23rd, 1692), or perhaps because he only left them about 2,000 volumes. Neither Bishop Huet nor Dean Ménage appears to have used an ex-libris, but the bindings of their books carried their arms stamped in gold on the covers. An account of the libraries of these famous collectors is given in “L’Armorial du Bibliophile.” Between 1650 and 1700 the number of book-plates is not large, nor are they of any exceptional interest, beyond showing the gradual alteration in style. It will suffice to name a few of the finest examples. Nicolas Martigny de Marsal, by Sebastien Le Clerc. Four sizes, two dated respectively 1655 and 1660.