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.

[Exlibris of Hiram Bingham] (Between 1875 and 1956) by UnknownNational Library of Peru

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.

[Exlibris album 1], page 8 ([1900?]) by UnknownNational Library of Peru

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.

[Exlibris album 1], page 8 ([1900?]) by UnknownNational Library of Peru

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.

[Exlibris album 1], page 8 ([1900?]) by UnknownNational Library of Peru

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.

[Exlibris album 1], page 8 ([1900?]) by UnknownNational Library of Peru

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.

[Exlibris of José Agustín Pardo de Figueroa] (First half of the 18th century) by Pablo MinguetNational Library of Peru

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.

[Exlibris of José Agustín Pardo de Figueroa] (First half of the 18th century) by Pablo MinguetNational Library of Peru

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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