Ellis Gamble's Book Plate
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. George A. Kubler
Accession Number
1949-152-62
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Created in 1786 by English printmaker Samuel Ireland, *Ellis Gamble’s Book Plate* is a fine example of an 18th-century ownership label designed to be pasted inside a book. Ireland, active during a period when printmaking flourished as both an art form and a means of personal expression, produced this engraved work for Ellis Gamble, likely a private collector or professional. The print’s delicate lines and compact composition reflect the refined engraving techniques popular in Georgian England. Bookplates served both practical and symbolic purposes, marking a volume’s place in a growing person...