One occasionally comes across a small book-plate of oblong form which in itself is not especially attractive, but which printed from the genuine copper is of the greatest interest to the collector of books and book-plates. This plate shows for arms eight red balls upon a silver field and the shield is supported by griffons, while the crests and banners displayed above assist in the identification of the plate. The legend below runs as follows, Biblioteque de Coppet. This is the book-plate of Madame de Stael. This estimable lady, the most celebrated authoress of modern times, was born in Paris on the 22d of April, 1766, and the name given her was Anne Louise Germaine Necker, her father being the Switzer, Jacques Necker, the celebrated statesman and minister of finance who did so much for poor Louis XVI. Her home was the meeting-place of the literary celebrities of the day, and with the rarest opportunity for acquaintance and culture this lively girl grew up. Married to the Swedish minister at the Court of France, Eric Magnus Stael von Hoi-stein, in 1786, a man whom she did not love but who was preferred to all others by her parents because he was a Protestant, she received an immense dowry from her father, and within two years of her marriage her first literary production was given to the world. Banished from Paris in 1802, she spent some time in travelling and finally settled in her father's castle, Coppet, on the banks of Lake Leman, the haunt of genius, where, by the words upon her book-plate, we conclude the greater part of her library was assembled. Here came those valiant supporters of her ideas to condole with her, here also the hordes of exiles, here later that gay assemblage of her best friends when the beautiful Recamier listened to the love-making of the dashing Prince August of Prussia. Not beautiful itself, with the chateau so situated as not to command a view of the lake, it was still a quiet place in which to work, although the gifted writer much preferred the excitement of the Rue de Bac.
Such magic names as Byron, Gibbon, Shelley, Rousseau, and Voltaire are associated with Lake Leman, and as one comes across the book-plate of Madame de Stael and ponders upon the eyes which have perchance glanced at it as the hands of famous men or women opened the book it ornamented, he can but feel a new thrill of emotion as it recalls to him the history of those times of terror and persecution to its owner.
Under the First Empire, when Napoleon by edict made sweeping changes in the heraldic customs of his people, the book-plates are not very interesting, but there are two which in themselves show some pleasing conceits. These are of Antoine Pierre Augustin de Piis, a dramatist, whose plate shows his monogram monogram placed on a which carries the name of a well-known singer, as Panard, Colle, Fevart, etc., and below appears a list of vaudevilles from his own pen, and that of M. Dubuisson, which is dated 1805, and represents a chubby cherub carving the name and date upon an overhanging rock.
The plate of Napoleon's own brother, Lucien, is worthy of mention here, as it represents that gifted man at about the period of his greatest glory. The plate is quite small, and displays the arms in an oval shield with an ermine mantle surmounted with the crown, behind it. The inscription below reads, Ex Bibliotheca Principis Canini.
In his book on the French book-plates Mr.Walter Hamilton regards the interesting plate of Alphonse Karr, the author and editor, as marking the "division line between the old engraved copper-plates with their stiff and formal heraldry, and the modern etched plate with designs free and graceful, allegoric, pictorial, allusive, humorous — anything, in fact, that is not heraldic or in which at least if there be anything of an armorial nature, it is made subservient to the general design and as little conspicuous as possible." The plate of M. Karr represents a wasp busily writing on a large sheet of parchment. Very probably the design on the book-plate was to conform to the title of his satirical periodical monthly, entitled Les Guepes. This plate dates about 1837. Another plate by this same designer deserves mention if for no other reason than on account of its motto, Nun-quam amicorum, the spirit of which is decidedly opposite to that of his fellow-countryman, Jean Grolier, upon whose many beautiful bindings was stamped the words, Jo. Grolierii et amicorum. Thomas Maioli also used this formula upon his books, but he seems to have suffered from his book-loving friends; for upon some of his bindings the generous offer of his library is modified by the addition of the following, Ingratis servire nefas.
Upon a small plate showing the arms of Mexico enclosed within an oval frame and supported by griffons and showing the royal crown above, the monogram M.I.M. is seen. To this plate no little interest attaches, as it was used by the ill-fated but estimable Maximilian, Archduke of Austria and Emperor of Mexico. The sad story of the unhappy ending of the two lives which were begun together with such brilliant promise of happiness and prosperity is still fresh in the minds of many. Oh, that the temptations of Napoleon III. had not been listened to, and that Maximilian could have remained within reach of his beloved Miramar! He did not understand the conditions which faced him in the new country; he was possessed of personal bravery and integrity, but he lacked the insight of the general, the power of the conqueror. How can one read with anything but pity of the landing of this misguided man and his expectant wife upon the inhospitable shores where death awaited him? With what pleasure did they look forward to the landing, with what pomp and evidence of welcome and rejoicing did they expect to be received, and with what bare civility were they handed from the boat and escorted by a few officials to the palace ! Disappointment from the first, and
Still no comprehension of circumstances ! With what peculiar power of hope must he have been endowed to have been able during the long weeks of that disastrous experience to keep himself within doors and spend his time devising uniforms for the royal guard, charts of precedence, and orders of chivalry! Perhaps even this book-plate was designed during these momentous days. But at length, with the withdrawal of the French troops and the more threatening attitude of the soldiers under Juarez, came the understanding that he must take the field. With nothing to support him, disaster soon overtook him, and upon the 19th day of June, 1867, the life of Maximilian was ended by the bullet of the executioner. A tender and cherished memorial of him is this book-plate.
The plate of the Duchesse de Berry shows two oval shields with sprigs of lilies tied about them with the lac d' amour. Underneath are the words Bibliotheque de Resney. By this plate and the shields of arms upon it Italy and France are connected, and one allows the mind to run back over the events which brought this daughter of Ferdinand I. of Italy to be the bride of the son of Charles X. The assassination of the Duke and the Legitimist support of the claims of her infant son, the Duke of Bordeaux, and the rising in favor of the Duchesse which took place in Brittany in 1832 only to be ended by the treachery which sent her to Sicily, are events too well known to need extended mention. The book-plate is a pretty bit, and with its memories forms a desirable addition to the collector's album.



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