For ages I saw ex libris inside old books and assumed it meant the book had come from a library. Then I started looking at the plates properly and realised how often there was a person’s name right there in front of me. I’d been handling these books for years and looking straight past it.
What does ex libris mean?
Ex libris means “from the books of”. A bookplate is a label, usually pasted inside the front cover or on the facing endpaper, that identifies the book’s owner. Some are little more than a printed name, while others have a coat of arms, an illustration or a design chosen by the owner.
What can a bookplate tell you?
Start with what you can actually read. A name, date or address might give you a lead. A plate tells you whose ownership the label records, and you’d need more evidence to link the name to a particular person. A handwritten prize inscription or a note tucked inside can add a different piece of the story.
I’ve started giving the inside cover a second look when I photograph a book. If there’s a plate, I want you to be able to see it and decide whether it adds to the copy’s appeal for you.