Читать книгу On the Processes for the Production of Ex Libris (Book-Plates) - John Vinycomb - Страница 4

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In acceding to the author’s request that I would add a few words of introduction to these reprinted articles, I do so with pleasure, although entering a mild protest thereon, inasmuch as the writer has handled his subject so well that it leaves very little to say, except in commendation of the work to the favourable consideration of those for whom it was written.

Mr. Vinycomb has in these articles aimed to give his readers a practical dissertation upon the modes of execution, rather than upon the history and classification of styles in the production of book-plates; and in this he has certainly departed from the beaten track, and has furnished a very concise and clear account of the various processes by which our book-plates are produced and reproduced, and the numerous and ingenious methods of manipulation resorted to in their manufacture.

Some people may take exception to the word manufacture, used in this connection, as being inappropriate to a description of what may be defined as one of the modern arts. But the terms, though by no means synonymous, are at any rate akin; for doubtless the majority of book-plates are artistically designed, but for their reproduction and final manipulation the aid of science must be resorted to.

Mr. Vinycomb, in his opening remarks, says: “The production of book-plates, by whatever means, is but a side branch of the art by which pictorial and decorative illustrations of every kind are executed, and copies multiplied by some of the ordinary processes of printing.” He then tells us that whereas in former times wood engraving and copper engraving were responsible for most of the book-plates existing, “the advance of modern science has, however, changed all that, and we may now possess a charming book-plate, which is neither engraved on wood or on copper, and yet may pass for either the one or the other, or have characteristics entirely its own.” It must be borne in mind, however, that many persons have a great abhorrence of processes of all kinds, and cannot be satisfied with anything short of an Ex Libris worked direct from the copper. In the highest interests of Art, they are doubtless right; but whereas it is only the rich man who can purchase the work of an old master or of a modern painter, by means of the despised process blocks these same works of art can be placed in the hands of everyone. This, however, is too wide a subject to be dealt with here; yet a glance at the pages of the Studio and other current periodicals should convince the most sceptical that the most beautiful work may be produced by these same processes. It is the same with book-plates, the artist’s handiwork being reproduced in absolute fac-simile.

Mr. Vinycomb leads us, in these pages, by easy stages, through the various developments of engraving, from the rough woodcuts which are to be found in the earliest printed books to the beautifully finished work of Dürer and other masters of engraving. Then comes the engraving on metals and etching; and last we are let into the secrets of the various means adopted for the duplication of artists’ sketches by means of blocks or transfers, from which any number of copies may be taken. He has, as we have already stated, treated his subject in an eminently practical manner, so that the veriest tyro may be able to understand the methods used in the multiplication of Ex Libris; and by means of the well-selected illustrations, and the hints so freely scattered over these pages, it is an easy matter for those who have not studied the art of engraving and process-working to gain a fair knowledge of the subject.

Some of the illustrations have already appeared in connection with these articles in the Ex Libris Journal (Vol. III., pp. 151, 170; Vol. IV., pp. 17, 43, 57, 92); others are introduced here for the first time; but they are all well calculated to enhance the value of Mr. Vinycomb’s work, and to show what can be done by the various methods in use. Further, it may be safely assumed that all systematic collectors of book-plates will be glad to have in this handy and independent form an essay upon the practical side of a subject in which they have up to the present taken, perhaps, but a general or sentimental interest.

Thanks to the formation of the Ex Libris Society, the collection and preservation of book-plates has now reached something akin to a scientific position, and in large and valuable collections it has become more and more necessary to know how best to classify and arrange our acquisitions. This knowledge can therefore best be secured by studying such works as the present, by means of which the collector is able to judge of the age and value of a plate, or at any rate to fix an approximate date to those (and they are many) which have no printed date to fix their identity.

This little work comes as a valuable companion to Mr. Hamilton’s recently published work on “Dated Book-plates,” in which he deals with almost all the branches of the subject of most interest or value to collectors, but has, naturally, little to say upon the practical production of Ex Libris—leaving that to an expert in the person of the writer of the present essay. For practical engravers Mr. Vinycomb has probably said too much, or not enough, or has, perhaps, only told them what they knew already; but as the majority of collectors cannot be classed in this category, it may fairly be assumed that the author has filled a gap in book-plate literature which no previous writer has attempted to supply, and that his work will be found of great value to members of the Ex Libris Society, and to collectors of book-plates in general.

W. H. K. WRIGHT,

Editor Ex Libris Journal.