A Guide to their Study with Examples
By Charles Dexter Allen
Member Ex-Libris Society London · Member Grolier Club New York
Member Connecticut Historical Society Hartford
With a Bibliography by Eben Newell Hewins
Member Ex-Libris Society
Illustrated with many reproductions of rare and interesting book-plates
and in the finer editions with many prints from the original
coppers both old and recent
PREFACE.
A large number of articles has also been contributed to periodical literature by those well informed upon the subject, and numerous monographs testify to the growth of interest in this fascinating study, and by the names of their authors, to the class of scholars and students of antiquarian lore who deem the humble book-plate worthy of their attention.
In view of what has been and of what will be written, this present modest attempt to introduce more fully than has yet been done, the book-plates of America, needs to be understood as simply a pioneer work; a great deal of information will reward the patient and painstaking investigator of the future, which is now inaccessible, and without doubt, too, much will be found even within the present to supplement these pages.
This book could not have been undertaken nor carried to completion had the writer been denied the generous assistance and hearty sympathy of our collectors, to whom he desires to express his appreciation of the kindnesses shown him.