COLLECTION GUIDES

1730-ca. 1946

Guide to the Collection


Collection Summary

Creator: Elliot, Ruby Vanette, 1872-
Title: Ruby V. Elliot bookplate collection
Dates: 1730-ca. 1946
Physical Description: Approximately 326 bookplates in 2 boxes and 1 volume
Call Number: Graphics-Sm Elliot
Repository:
Massachusetts Historical Society
1154 Boylston StreetBoston, MA 02215library@masshist.org

Abstract

Personal and institutional bookplates collected by Ruby V. Elliot.

Biographical Sketch

Ruby Vanette Elliot was born 22 September 1872 in Centreville, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Calvin Hudson McCauley, a prominent railroad attorney, and his wife Juliette (McGibney). She attended Syracuse University from 1892-1893 and married John Seaver Elliot in July of 1895 in Syracuse, N.Y. The two were later divorced and census records and a passport application indicate that Ruby later lived in Garden City, N.Y. and worked as a secretary. She seems to have been collecting bookplates as early as 1917, and the collection contains her notes about bookplate collections and sources, as well as a few notes from correspondents sending along their bookplates for her collection.

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Sources

Allen, Charles Dexter. American Book-Plates: A Guide to their Study. London: George Bell & Sons, 1895.

Bookplates and Other Engravings by Edwin Davis French. Cleveland: The Rowfant Club, 1911.

Castle, Egerton. English Book-Plates: An Illustrated Handbook for Students of Ex-Libris. London: George Bell & Sons, 1892.

Fowler, Alfred. A Directory of Bookplate Artists With Notes Concerning Their Work. Kansas City: Alfred Fowler, 1921.

Hardy, W. J. Book-Plates. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1893.

Warren, John Byrne Leicester. A Guide to the Study of Book-Plates (Ex-Libris). New York and London: John Lane, the Bodley Head, 1900.

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Collection Description

Collection of personal and institutional bookplates, primarily American and British, compiled by Ruby V. Elliot. The collection comprises both armorial and pictorial designs by such noted designers as Carl Oscar Borg, Edwin D. French, W. F. Hopson, C. W. Sherborn, J. W. Spenceley, and Curt Szekessy (who designed Ms. Elliot's personal bookplate). The collection also includes two printing plates for bookplates, as well as a small amount of correspondence relating to the creation of the collection.

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Acquisition Information

Gift of Juliette Tomlinson, May 1970.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Expand all

Loose bookplates

Arranged alphabetically. Personal and institutional bookplates are interfiled. Box 2 contains printing plates and miscellaneous printed items.

Close Loose bookplates
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Preferred Citation

Ruby V. Elliot bookplate collection, Massachusetts Historical Society.

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Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Borg, Carl Oscar, 1879-1947.
French, Edwin Davis, 1851-1906.
Hopson, William Fowler, 1849-1935.
Sherborn, Charles William, 1831-1912.
Spenceley, J. Winfred (Joseph Winfred), 1865-1908.
Szekessy, Curt.

Subjects:

Bookplates.
Books and reading--Artifacts.
Coats of arms.
Printing plates.

Materials Removed from the Collection

Cole, Herbert. Heraldry and Floral Forms as Used in Decoration. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1922.

Ex Libris: Book Plates, Their Origin, Design, Execution and Cost. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., ca. 1902.

United States. President. To the Marshal of the Virginia District Greeting ... [Printed subpoena for the Aaron Burr trial, completed in ms]. Bdses-Sm 1807 June 29.

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Collection processed by Mary Yacovone, May 2017

Encoded by Mary Yacovone, May 2017.

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