Though I’d given some thought to the topic of bookplates before, I was unaware that there’s an entire underground obsession with this vein of printing. Jesse and I caught the opening reception for a small, yet very impressive bookplate show at the Washington County Museum last night. After we grabbed drinks Jesse was handed a big magnifying glass with which to view the stunningly intricate detail of the small-scale prints.
Bookplates have been around for centuries and they are printed in a variety of different methods, including relief, intaglio, lithography, and even screenprinting. They are affixed inside books to denote from whose library (personal or otherwise) the book came. People throughout history have commissioned artists to design elaborate bookplates for them, and this is still done often today for collectors who want to trade.
The exhibit that we visited had designs (more than 230, according to the WCM website) of virtually every technique and subject matter. What most impressed me was how much the artists could squeeze into such a tiny, little image. Many of them were rich with story, emotion, and unbelievable depth and shading.
Sadly, images of the best historical bookplates are copyrighted like mad. If you’re interested in browsing through this petite gems, check out the following websites:
Confessions of Bookplate Junkie
American Society of Bookplate Collectors & Designers
Bookplates have been around for centuries and they are printed in a variety of different methods, including relief, intaglio, lithography, and even screenprinting. They are affixed inside books to denote from whose library (personal or otherwise) the book came. People throughout history have commissioned artists to design elaborate bookplates for them, and this is still done often today for collectors who want to trade.
The exhibit that we visited had designs (more than 230, according to the WCM website) of virtually every technique and subject matter. What most impressed me was how much the artists could squeeze into such a tiny, little image. Many of them were rich with story, emotion, and unbelievable depth and shading.
Sadly, images of the best historical bookplates are copyrighted like mad. If you’re interested in browsing through this petite gems, check out the following websites:
Confessions of Bookplate Junkie
American Society of Bookplate Collectors & Designers
University of Notre Dame Bookplate Registry
I decided to check Etsy to see what caliber of bookplates are offered for sale there. Overall, I was pretty disappointed, after looking at hundreds of professional plates designed by prolific artists last night. Here are some nice ones that caught my eye. Each photo is a link that will lead you to the seller’s Etsy page, in case you’d like to get some for yourself!
I decided to check Etsy to see what caliber of bookplates are offered for sale there. Overall, I was pretty disappointed, after looking at hundreds of professional plates designed by prolific artists last night. Here are some nice ones that caught my eye. Each photo is a link that will lead you to the seller’s Etsy page, in case you’d like to get some for yourself!
amandamonkey
The Little Fox
Kelly Christina Artworks
Oiseaux
Add this to the list of projects I want to try. Etching is sort of the bane of my existence, but block printing is a legitimate option. I could also see Jesse cranking out some sweet computer-generated designs. And when the day comes that I break out my screenprinting kit…it’s going to be a bookplate trading bonanza.
i miss the good ole' days where photographs were exposed on copper plates (heck! even film) and printed in the darkroom and graphic design was delivered by hours of precise etching on wood and metal plates - looks like a neat show!
ReplyDeleteWe were just talking yesterday about how soon 35mm is going to go out of commission. Want to stock up with us? I took a surreptitious cell phone pic at that show for you - show you tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of a book plate. Thanks for the introduction! They look really cool!
ReplyDelete