Instructor: Robert Desmarais (Bruce Peel Special Collections). 

Description: A bookplate, the paper label affixed to a book's inside cover to signify ownership, distinctively communicates both the owner's identity and their claim to the volume. For centuries, printed bookplates, also known as "ex libris" labels (Latin for "from the books" and often paraphrased as “from the library of”), have allowed book owners to personalize their volumes, with designs ranging from simple name inscriptions to artistic compositions and heraldic devices. The choice of typeface, paper, imagery, even the techniques used to create the bookplate, from wood engraving to copperplate etching, all contribute to the story of the person who owned the book. Whether a plain label or an elaborate artwork, a bookplate offers a fascinating glimpse into a book owner's identity and collection. This workshop will explore intriguing bookplates from the Peel library's holdings, inviting participants to discuss the insights they provide into their former owners and their collections. 

This in-person workshop is open to the University of Alberta community and is capped at 8 participants, so it is being offered twice.

The website for Bruce Peel Special Collections offers detailed information about this series of workshops as well as information about research and exhibitions.