Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Vanity Plates

A bookplate set within an ornamental border, showing a woman holding flowers and a dog. Behind them is Douglas Fairbanks' Zorro. The text in the plate reads "Douglas and Mary Fairbanks from among their books."A bookplate is one of the ultimate stamps of ownership - other than writing in the margins.  Both a status symbol and art in it's own right, the plate and its design reflect the owner's accomplishments and personality.

Shown here are three particularly expressive plates belonging to the swashbuckling Douglas Fairbanks, the brooding Victor Hugo, and Vermont's own Calvin Coolidge.  The Dartmouth Alumni Magazine recently featured several other ex-libris in the March/April issue.

To see these plates and many others, please visit Rauner Library and ask about the bookplate collection.

A bookplate showing Victor Hugo's initials in front of an illustration of Notre Dame cathedral. A banner across the illustration reads "Ex Libris Victor Hugo."A bookplate showing an illustration of a home, lawn, and dogs, enclosed in an ornamental and topped by a bust and American flag. Below, the name "Calvin Coolidge" is prominently displayed.
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