It has been reproduced in nearly every illustrated article that has been printed on French ex-libris, with its towers of the cathedral of Notre Dame illuminated by the flash of lightning carrying his name:
“Les tours de Notre-Dame étaient l’H. de son Nom!”
On what occasion can M. Aglaüs Bouvenne have designed this celebrated book-plate, seeing that at the time of his death the library of Victor Hugo consisted of less than fifty volumes?
The history is a somewhat curious one.
As is well known, Victor Hugo was an implacable enemy of Napoleon III., and during his reign resided in Guernsey. Wishing to pay his great countryman a compliment, Mons. Aglaüs Bouvenne designed this plate, the towers of Notre Dame being introduced not only to remind Hugo of his beloved Paris, but also in allusion to his famous novel.
On the 10th July, 1870, Victor Hugo wrote from Hauteville House to thank the artist for the plate: “Votre ex-libris fait par vous pour moi me charme—j’accepte avec reconnaissance cette jolie petite planche.... Votre ex-libris marquera tous les livres de la Bibliothèque de Hauteville House.”
But the great war came, the downfall of the Empire, the return of Victor Hugo to Paris, and amidst so much change and excitement the poor little ex-libris appears to have been neglected. After the poet’s death forgeries of it flooded the market, and many unwary collectors purchased worthless copies.