Thursday, June 18, 2009

On Collecting Wine Bookplates: A Newcomer's Confessions by Rae Fahlenius. Part III












Continued from Part II




Because of the words “Mein“ and “ich“ it is quite plausible to think that this text comes from Mr. Lippóczy’s own handwriting. Soon afterwards, I got an exhibition catalogue (1973) related to wine ex libris and occasional graphics from an antiquarian bookshop in Poland. The exhibition was organized to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Hungarian poet Sandor Petöfi and is spiced throughout with wine bookplates of Mr. Lippóczy.





Actually, there are no actual reproductions in the catalogue, but there are three original bookplate prints tipped in and one of them is definitely Mr. Lippóczy’s first wine bookplate. In my eyes, the value of the catalogue is emphasized by the fact that you can find the date, 18.III.73 Tarnow, could be signed by Mr. Norbert Lippóczy.

One of the many good points I have learned during the last six months of collecting bookplates is, that the enigma of Edward Hale was solved, at least in part. Two or three months ago I got a message from California. I was informed that Mr. Hale was a Master of Wine and wine buyer for Harvey's of Bristol and that he passed on in the early 1990s.

Loose bookplates have their own and interesting role for collectors. In addition, if pasted into books, bookplates enter in a larger cultural circulation. Through them one can also try to reconstruct collections in libraries that have disappeared for some reason or other. Furthermore, many thoughts were stimulated when I found an ex libris in a book, not affixed to the book, but drawn directly on it with the greatest of skill. More and more interesting questions and other stimulating thoughts were stirred as I became acquainted with the art of the bookplate. But this is a worthy endeavour.

1 comment:

  1. I think from the middle of the century, however, the ex-libris proper became quite popular; examples of that period are numerous, and, as a rule, very handsome

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