At length Mons. Aglaüs Bouvenne, who possessed the original copper, allowed prints of it to be taken to be issued with the “Archives de la Société Française des Collectionneurs d’Ex Libris” for June, 1895, together with a facsimile of Victor Hugo’s letter of thanks above quoted.
It should be noticed that the original plate is signed Aglaüs Bouvenne del et sculp. 70 (for 1870), and although it may please collectors to possess a copy of this ex-libris, they must not assume, when purchasing one, that it ever was in the possession of the great poet himself.
M. Bouvenne also designed a plate, dated 1872, for the late novelist and dramatist Théophile Gautier, enshrining his monogram on the entablature of an Egyptian temple, but in this case he had to deal with a veritable lover of books, who possessed a library of some importance, which was sold, after his death, at the Hôtel Drouot. A catalogue was issued describing the books, but, although they were mostly in good condition, and bore the book-plate of a man somewhat famous in his day, they realized but a small sum under the hammer.
Of the Comte d’Orsay, at one time the leader of fashion, the Prince of Dandies, and the associate of the lovely but unfortunate Lady Blessington, there is little to be said, nor would that little be complimentary.
On page 38 is the tiny little plate of Paul Lacroix, better known, perhaps, as the bibliophile Jacob, whose writings have done so much to popularize the study of the manners of the Middle Ages, and the progress of civilization in France.
The two naked little gamins are gazing at the P.L. on the open volume, illuminated by a lamp of ancient Greek design. The motto runs, “Livres nouveaux, livres vielz et antiques, Etienne Dolet.”
Mons. Paul Lacroix was appointed curator of the Library of the Arsenal in 1855, where he died a few years ago.
The Vicomte de Rougé, who died in 1873, was a famous Egyptologist, whose translations from the papyri and inscriptions on the Egyptian monuments were considered of the highest philological value. In 1860 M. de Rougé was installed in the chair of Egyptology in the College of France, where for some years he expounded the principles of careful analysis, upon which his own successful studies had been based. He left a son, who shared his father’s enthusiasm for research, and was also a frequent contributor to the “Revue Archéologique.”