The books of the lamented actors, Edwin Booth and Lawrence Barrett, were marked with book-plates, the former using a plain armorial with no name engraved upon it, and the latter showing the mask of Tragedy upon an open volume, with the motto, Esto quod esse videris.
The reading monk, with the nimbus and star over his head, is seen in the plate of Edward Eggleston. The sentiment, Flie fro’ the presse and dwell with sothfastnesse, is given in old English letters.
Mr. Rossiter Johnson uses a very plain but effective label bearing the initials R. J. printed within a plain ruled border: all in red ink.
The patriotic motto of General Winfield Scott is the family motto of the Scots of Whitislaid, Scotland, and well did the character of the man who used the book-plate depicted below coincide with its meaning.
It would be interesting to extend this list of plates used by men well known throughout the length and breadth of our land, but, unfortunately, many whose names will occur to the reader do not use a book-plate.
