Armorial Ex Libris II

It is impossible to give a full historic overview of the heraldic ex libris in a few pages. So, I will try to present a picture of this important part of the ex libris world based on some different, fine and representative armorial ex libris in the main of today.

A typical armorial ex libris from the 18th century is an anonym plate with the coat of arms of the German imperial count and Russian field marshal Jurij Jurjevitj Browne (1698-1792) (ill. 3). He belonged to a Scotch-Irish noble family and participated with distinction in the Swedish war of 1741-43 and the Seven Years' War. Czar Peter III made him governor general of Livonia and state holder of Estonia. The plate with his motto FIDEM SERVABO GENUSQUE (I serve my faith and my race) is engraved in copper in 1779 by probably a German artist by name of S. Mansfeld.

Another plate from the 18th century is for the Swedish field marshal count Adam Lewenhaupt (1725-1775). When he needed an ex libris he commissioned one from the famous engraver Jean Striedbeck (1707-1772) in Strasbourg (ill. 4). Lewenhaupt is one of the oldest country houses of Sweden and its coat of arms has no fewer than eight helmets with different crests. Later on this ex libris was used by another Lewenhaupt with the same first name.