Ex libris uit de collectie van William Stirling Maxwell 1852 - 1878

This is an anonymous ex libris, or bookplate, made for William Stirling Maxwell. Though small in scale, bookplates were powerful indicators of personal identity and social standing. The techniques involved in their production – typically etching or engraving – demanded specialist skills, combining artistry with precision. These processes also allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of identical images. The bookplate could be replicated many times over, implying a degree of industrialization, despite its intimate connection to the owner. Notice the phrase "Arts of Design" written around the edge of the emblem, and the initials "MBR" at its center. The Arts of Design was a common phrase at the time for fine arts, and this, combined with the fact that the bookplate was made for a wealthy collector suggests a society that placed books and the arts on a pedestal. Considering the material and processes of this bookplate gives us a richer understanding of its function, moving it beyond a mere label to a symbol of class, labor, and the social values embedded in material culture.