Smallest Ex Libris?

Starting to get moved into the new place. I promise, photos soon. I've finished refinishing the wood floor in the library. Unpacking a box of my things I haven't seen for a year, I found my album which houses my modest ex libris collection. Browsing amongst these treasures I found what I believe would vie for the smallest ex libris. I mean, it's tiny. I'm pretty sure it's a return address label that has been appropriated into a teensy, but affordable ex libris.

I began to think of smaller markings, like book branding, armorial stamps, other ink stamps, etc.--- but they aren't true ex libris. So, is it indeed the smallest? Probably not, I think another I've uncovered here was perhaps smaller, but a guy can hope.

Ex Libris Mobilis

. I've recently run into Tom online. Tom is the lucky owner of a 1955 Chevy bookmobile named Baby. Can I even begin to say how jealous I am? Very cool. He is planning to hit the national car show circuit with it next year, with a compliment of pre-1955 books. If you're curious if he has a copy of Here Comes the Bookmobile by Dirk Gringuis, published in 1952, yes he does. From what I understand, it is the first bookmobile book written for kids. Anyone know of one earlier? According to Tom: "In the Spring of 1955, the Anderson, South Carolina Library ordered a Second-Series Chevy 3600 Chassis-Cab, and sent the unit off to Rock Hill, SC to have the book box built. The Rock Hill Body Company (RHBC) created the box, an evolutionary design with walk-in center core and exterior fold-out wing doors. In '58, the Anderson County Library System was created by referendum, and the Bookmobile continued in service till 1991." I asked if he planned on using a bookplate for the collection and he did not know what a bookplate was. I directed him to Confessions of a Bookplate Junkie. If you are not familiar with Confessions, it is my favorite ex libris blog. I was also curious if anyone out there have ever seen a bookplate, specific to bookmobiles, or featuring bookmobiles. I've certainly never seen one. I asked Mr. Junkie, of the above plugged blog, and it turns out that he hasn't either. Perhaps they'd be more appropriately called ex libris mobilis. Thinking about it, if a bookplate featured a bookmobile, it would be from a collection of books that stayed with the bookmobile, and did not generally circulate among a library system. It seems that many (most?) libraries stock bookmobiles with books from the general circulating collections, so a bookmobile specific bookplate seems unlikely. Perhaps a mobile branch librarian could help us out? The four photos of Baby the Bookmobile are inside and out "As Found", and inside and out, "Cleaned up". She's in an amazing state of preservation. I can't wait to see her on the road! .

Resist Temptation and Little Nips

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Brilliant. Another example of a bookplate carrying use and care instructions (and guilt trips). I love this. From JB, charter member of the Bibliophiles of Oklahoma. I forgot to ask is Cecil followed these rules...

When You Use A Book
* Are you careful with it?
* Do you try to keep it clean?
* Do you refrain from writing or marking in it?
* Do you resist the temptation to roll up the corners of the pages and tear out little nips?
* If so, good.
*If not, try to think of books as human begins with feelings just like yours. And resolve today to treat books as friends.

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The Eloquence of ER Wyatt

Originally uploaded by Exile Bibliophile

There are many beautiful bookplates. Ive seen scores of eloquent ex libris. You can enjoy many such ownership labels over at the Bookplate Junkie blog every Sunday. This label isn't much to look at, but I love it. I don't know ER Wyatt, but I think we have some things in common. I found this label in an obscure railroad title at that FOL sale a couple weeks ago. It was taped to the bottom of the front flap of the dust jacket. I almost didn't notice it. I grinned, tucked it under my elbow to prowl some more.




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