[Illustration: BOOK-PLATE OF VICTOR HUGO. By Aglaüs Bouvenne.] On the 10th July, 1870, Victor Hugo wrote from Hauteville House to thank the artist for the plate: “Votre _ex-libris_ fait par vous pour moi me charme--j’accepte avec reconnaissance cette jolie petite planche.... Votre ex-libris marquera tous les livres de la Bibliothèque de Hauteville House.” But the great war came, the downfall of the Empire, the return of Victor Hugo to Paris, and amidst so much change and excitement the poor little ex-libris appears to have been neglected. After the poet’s death forgeries of it flooded the market, and many unwary collectors purchased worthless copies. [Illustration: BOOK-PLATE OF THÉOPHILE GAUTIER. By Aglaüs Bouvenne.] At length Mons. Aglaüs Bouvenne, who possessed the original copper, allowed prints of it to be taken to be issued with the “Archives de la Société Française des Collectionneurs d’Ex Libris” for June, 1895, together with a facsimile of Victor Hugo’s letter of thanks above quoted. It should be noticed that the original plate is signed _Aglaüs Bouvenne del et sculp. 70_ (for 1870), and although it may please collectors to possess a copy of this ex-libris, they must not assume, when purchasing one, that it ever was in the possession of the great poet himself. [Illustration: BOOK-PLATE OF THE COMTE ALFRED D’ORSAY.] M. Bouvenne also designed a plate, dated 1872, for the late novelist and dramatist Théophile Gautier, enshrining his monogram on the entablature of an Egyptian temple, but in this case he had to deal with a veritable lover of books, who possessed a library of some importance, which was sold, after his death, at the Hôtel Drouot. A catalogue was issued describing the books, but, although they were mostly in good condition, and bore the book-plate of a man somewhat famous in his day, they realized but a small sum under the hammer. Of the Comte d’Orsay, at one time the leader of fashion, the Prince of Dandies, and the associate of the lovely but unfortunate Lady Blessington, there is little to be said, nor would that little be complimentary. On page 38 is the tiny little plate of Paul Lacroix, better known, perhaps, as the bibliophile Jacob, whose writings have done so much to popularize the study of the manners of the Middle Ages, and the progress of civilization in France. The two naked little _gamins_ are gazing at the P.L. on the open volume, illuminated by a lamp of ancient Greek design. The motto runs, “_Livres nouveaux, livres vielz et antiques, Etienne Dolet_.” Mons. Paul Lacroix was appointed curator of the Library of the Arsenal in 1855, where he died a few years ago.