The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-08-14
BOOK p Ia T.El!::'S..

Il In tho past the question was asked ind
sometimes sAt Tho query ri Is Es nc W. made,
y.t.ilvhat sis a book plate
#4 The Century answer Is quite ,colltclse
ana clear: Ga label bearing q anne.
crest, monogram or sign pasted ~ oE
on 9 book to Indicate It's ownersnlp-l !,
position In "a library. American, 81 ana
Respectfully virginian. book plate re lie
becoming better known In r chnlorid ana ~
Throughout this state. T he re- DIRE comp
iatiyely few Individual owners Of libra /.
RES IN Richmond or Virginia at this tins
swhc use "platesp for their ooks. 3S This;
however. was not the case prior to q se9
Some or the finest specimens OF colonla!
book plates and labels were ex tonsively
used up to tho period OF the Civil ur.
SH The coll Letting Of book plates als. becom-
ling something more than q B fad.s$3! III
values OF Individual collections now run
into many Il Thousands OF ia ollars. "A Yoi-i
urne pertaining to American book plates
was published twelve yenrs ago.. Many
yirginiaqp plates DIRE men toned in the copy
at the Stats Il brary but new spec linens q 70
arc constantly coming u to-, ligh liS t,,i.y \,
IA Mr.. Charles cr "a len, " the &auttho or
OF American Book Plates. q GA "a recently
wrote the writerat that tthny had As ed over
one thousand new! items, and was stu
at work In several instances the Old
colonial engraved 5 oppers, " from which
the book plates were printed have been
preserved in Richmond and handed Gown
from one generation to another. The
writer has In. his library q collection gof
books once belonging to John Randolph
of Roanoke, and his mother. In them
tho noted statesman pasted MS i b 'eNoy
plate, and the discovery was made 4i =
tho first time that he used two distinct
book plates Of his oWn-7-n fact unknoWn
to both collectors and authorities. The
late Mr.. Davies, who conducted the Lee
Photographic gallery In Richmond.
made quite large collection OF mega
tives, OF old book plates, $as well us many
other Views and photographs,
The writer is now the owner OF these!
negatives, and Is engaged In , asserting;
them for publication and preservation.
In the past many book labels were allow
ed toNslip by without observation, but Of
late d closer scrutiny Of them has been
kept. 3sf5ss S
Perhaps the most Interesting local labels
arc the first "Rlchmond SLibrnries.' a
fourth Richmond III hrary abel was found
tho past week. 1t reads, West Z END
Library Association Of Richmond, Va. WE
While many Virginia fownerstt Of books
used tho ordinary type. with q printers
border around tho name. some have the
appearance of being engraved, Nor are
fine specimen OF wood engraving Is q
large label withEemblomntic scroll work.
bearing In bold old English script tho
name 'Willlnm% Old. Powhat tan.
Quite u few labels are inado from plain i
wood blocks. A. copper engraved Wrea II
has in It John Campbell Like book
plates, labels with dates saro Very TOW.
a rather plain label, In blue, Is Blue
Allen. Richmond, Va" and one marvels
to know who &ho was. Others arc -. Il.
Girarlln," tho Virginia historian; John
Ruthorfoord," Samuel sublctt. Rlch-
5mond" 3D. c. IInrtsook, Richmond, Va,;'
CDR. j. G. Williams. g Thomas Branch
Cdr. Petcriicld Trent ~ ohnaG g. Boyd,
Clarksvlllo. Va; '''5sss"George w. Dame"
~. p. Cushing, ,a.John p. Medill, 9s"peter
". Daniel, IS. m. Wilson," and Nor
man V. Randolph" M There are only few
loose labels Others rest among old
volumes in a large collection Of Virginia.
In many Instances Virglnia'sh old book
lovers merely wrote their names IN their
books, and In ono early school book Is
neatly inscribed "Edgar a, Poe" prob
ably Ills first autograph.
!, Al. " 81 r., n II, WI11TTY,g