Ex libris van William Stirling Maxwell 1838 - 1878

This is an "ex libris", a bookplate, that was created between 1838 and 1878 for William Stirling Maxwell. It features a decorative design with the letters "W.S.M." in the center, surrounded by ornate details and a heraldic design. Ex libris are small, often artistic, labels that were placed in books to identify their owner. This particular ex libris demonstrates the craftsmanship and attention to detail often employed for such bookplates. The intricate design, combining lettering and heraldic elements, highlights the individualistic nature of book ownership in the 19th century.