The Bookplate Collection

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627 Items
Last Updated: 2025-01-08

The History of Medicine Collections has over 450 medically related bookplates. Although ex libris collections have never attained the popularity and status of stamp collections and the focus on medicine further limits the number of enthusiasts, there exists a small body of literature and bibliography on the subject. Bookplates can be approached as small works of art and are widely diverse in style and technique. They range from the simple to the sophisticated, from the serious to the humorous. Both individuals and libraries are represented. They are quite often engraved or woodcut, and are sometimes colored, occasionally by hand. A few are mass produced with a place to fill in a name. Size is limited only by the book into which the plate will be placed as a mark of range. The items chosen for inclusion in a plate even when focused by the common theme of medicine are various. Sometimes medical symbols such as the caduceus, stethoscope, or microscope are prominent or medical activities such as delivering a baby or performing surgery are obvious. An eye, a heart, or a bone can give an idea of the specialty. In others a medical connection is less evident and other interests of the physician are conspicuous. Sometimes there is no connection whatsoever, except for the designation of the owner as Dr. or M.D. Our collection frequently has examples of more than one ex libris designed for a particular person. Many explanations are possible for this practice. There is a limit to the number of good copies that can be struck off from a single plate. New plates are needed for a growing collection and extras are often wanted to exchange with others. An owner might want plates designed by different artists. Quite often separate bookplates are desired for different subjects within a library, either personal or institutional. Property of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library's History of Medicine Collections, Durham, NC.

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Total Works (627)

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  Title Date Created
 

Ex Libris W. Nieveen
Bookplate: A physician examines a flask of urine while taking the pulse of a woman. Another woman looks on. Composition inspired by a Jan Steen...

This work also belongs to: Historical Images In Medicine
["1900s"]
 

Ex Libris Dr. Hans Stopfer
Bookplate: A right hand reaches for a valentine-shaped heart among the thorns.

This work also belongs to: Historical Images In Medicine
["1900s"]
 

Ex Libris G. Stropus
Bookplate: A masked and gowned head view of a surgeon with rubber gloves and syringe.

This work also belongs to: Historical Images In Medicine
["1900s"]
 

Ex Libris Prof Dr. A. Liepukalns
Bookplate: Four surgically gowned figures surround an operating table with a patient. Medical instruments are in the foreground, academic...

This work also belongs to: Historical Images In Medicine
["1901"]
 

Ex Libris Kazimierza Wardzinskiego
Bookplate: A microscope and books against a decorative background.

This work also belongs to: Historical Images In Medicine
["1900s"]
 

Ex Libris J. Fortuyn Droogleever
Bookplate: View of thorax with ribs and organs.

This work also belongs to: Historical Images In Medicine
["1946"]
 

Ex Libris Dr. Leb Jozsef
Bookplate: Two warriors in classical Greek armor. One bandages the arm of the other.

This work also belongs to: Historical Images In Medicine
["1961"]
 

Ex Libris Dr. Med. Herman Smet
Bookplate: Frontal view of a woman's head that has been divided down the center. The left half is normal; the right half is flayed. "Semper...

This work also belongs to: Historical Images In Medicine
["1900s"]
 

Ex Libris Otto Pappel
Bookplate: A surgeon operates in the background. The grim reaper is in the foreground. A book is open to an image of a snake curled around a...

This work also belongs to: Historical Images In Medicine
["1900s"]
 

Ex Libris Charles Thomas
Bookplate: A male physician examines a female patient's eye. "Voir pour + Faire Voir."

This work also belongs to: Historical Images In Medicine
["1900s"]