Ex libris: the collector's stamp
Exploring Historical Book Ownership: Marks of Possession in the National Library of Peru's Archives (17th-18th Centuries)
[Exlibris album 1], page 23 ([1900?]) by UnknownNational Library of Peru
What are ex libris?
The term ex libris refers to the marks, labels or stamps, whether handwritten or printed, that are placed on books to indicate to whom they belong.
What does the word ex libris mean?
This word means “from among the books” and they usually carry the name of the owner, as well as some image, with family shields or allegorical figures linked to the owner's profession or activity being common.
What information can an ex libris provide?
These not only indicate ownership, but have an aesthetic and intimate value: they provide information about the owner, his career, personality and tastes, as well as the ideas of his time, among other valuable information.
[Exlibris album 1], page 5 ([1900?]) by UnknownNational Library of Peru
The ex libris Albums of the National Library of Peru
The National Library of Peru has two albums of labels or bookplates, thanks to which it has been possible to know or confirm, as the case may be, the origin of some books that the Library has acquired at different times in its history.
How do ex libris arrive in Peru?
It is noted that the first bookplate in history comes from Egypt. These arrived in America in the 17th century and in the Peruvian viceroyalty in the 18th century. In our territory, over time, bookplates have had different typologies: typographic and allegorical heraldry.
The heraldic ex libris
The first ex libris of the Peruvian viceroyalty are called "heraldic" because people used the image of their family coat of arms as a mark of ownership in their books. They were used by members of the colonial elite and nobility.
The first ex libris
The first printed ex-libris in Peru is from 1733. It is a heraldic book and belonged to José Agustín Pardo de Figueroa.
José Agustín Pardo de Figueroa
José Agustín Pardo de Figueroa was a colonial official was mayor of Cusco between 1742 and 1744. He formed his library in Europe and America, he wanted to make it freely accessible, but he died before achieving it.
He was an important person in Cusco. He was a scholar and knew many languages. His library had 10,000 books with notes in the margins showing his knowledge.
In this coat of arms we can observe the eagles that represent the Pardo family and the five fig leaves that the Figueroa family took as arms.
Paulus Minguet (1715(?)-1778)
He was a famous engraver of seals, plates and signatures, as well as a renowned publisher active in Spain.
[Exlibris album 2], page 8 ([1900?]) by UnknownNational Library of Peru
Exchange of ideas
In the 19th century, “typographic” bookplates were common, characterized by bearing the name of the owner and simple ornamentation on the edges.
The predominant design
This was the predominant style during this period, used by independence fighters, intellectuals and clergymen, among others, although other designs were also developed.
The 'typographic' ex libris fashion of the 19th century
They were characterised by the name of the owner and simple ornamentation around the edges. After independence, the ostentatious brands of the viceregal families gave way to this simplified design.
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