and thus, though not beautiful, it quite fulfils its duty.
Sixteen years later we have a plate which also has these essential points, but is in the shell-work mode, light and elegant. Round the upper part is a label inscribed: “Ex libris Ant. Franc Alex Boula de Nanteuil,” and at the base: “Libellorum suplicum Magister. à mandatis Regiæ &ᶜ &ᶜ—et in supremà Galliarum curià senator ad horrorem. 1777.” The shield is azure, three bezants.
Here is an instance of an ex libris not inserted, but impressed, seemingly a copper-plate engraving. The design is simple; but quite serves its purpose. It is an oval frame surmounted by a ribbon tied in a bow, and in the oval the words “Ex Bibliotheca Ecclesia Aug. Conf. Posson.” The book is a copy of Prodromus idiomatis ... adparatus criticus ad linguam Hungaricam ... auctore Georgio Kalmar ... Posonii, ... 1770. The copy bears also another ownership inscription—in other words, another ex libris: “Obtulit / Frider. Frank. / Posen. / 1789. /”
A curious plate here illustrated is that of Peter Mairdat.
Of about 1780 is the copper-plate of Klemens Wenzel, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Bland, Elector-Archbishop of Trier, and Bishop of Augsburg. The plate represents the arms of Augsburg, of Trier, of Saxony, and also of Poland.
This is not the place to write the story of the first great French Revolution; but it is to the point of our subject in hand to note that on June 20th, 1790, a decree was proposed and passed in the French Assembly suppressing the titles of duke, count, marquis, viscount, baron, and chevalier, and at the same time all armorial bearings were done away with. Now followed a bad time for bookplate artists and engravers. The cap of liberty and the bloody guillotine do not breathe high artistic inspiration.
The plate of Marshal Jourdan consists chiefly of a shield wholly occupied with the simple inscription “Bibliothèque du Maréchal Jourdan.”