Bookplate of Henry Livingston Rowe 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Sidney L. Smith's "Bookplate of Henry Livingston Rowe." Editor: It’s quite lovely, actually. The oval portrait of the child gives it an intimate, almost sentimental feeling. Curator: Bookplates like this became quite fashionable in the late 19th century as a way for individuals to mark their ownership of books, reflecting the growth of a middle class with literary aspirations. Smith was a master engraver, whose skills catered to this market. Editor: Yes, the detail is striking. Look at the precision of the lines, the textures he creates with such a limited tonal range. The Latin motto, “Vincit qui patitur”—He conquers who endures—adds a layer of solemnity. Curator: It suggests the values Livingston Rowe wanted to project through his library. Bookplates like these became powerful symbols of status and intellect. Editor: It really compresses so much identity into such a small, carefully wrought frame. Curator: Indeed. It is fascinating how the bookplate became a little vignette of the owner's aspirations.