Open Collections

Harrod, Stanley

In black ink on white paper, this bookplate consists of a shield or escutcheon Argent (silver). On dexter side, a twelve-point etoile. On sinister side, a dexter arm holding a cup. A trefoil Argent protrudes from the middle base of the escutcheon. The front facing, barred helm bears the crest of a bearded man from the waist up holding a cup in his right hand. The helm is surrounded by mantling. Below the escutcheon, a banner bears the text 'S H / L. M. Stauffer / 1917'.

Heraldry

Stauffer, L. M.

Still Image

The owner, L. M. Stauffer, was the senior partner of the printing house of Stauffer & Lee in Toronto, according to 'A List of Canadian Bookplates, with a Review of the History of Ex Libris in the Dominion.' The Stauffer family emigrated from the U.S. to Canada circa 1816. Stanley Harrod (1881-1954) was an artist and designer of 'bookplates of wide repute.' Born in Leeds, England, Harrod studied in Buenos Aires before moving to Canada in 1906. He worked in the media of drawing, printmaking, and photography. Together with Morely J. Ayearst, he compiled the bookplates for 'A List of Canadian Bookplates, with a Review of the History of Ex Libris in the Dominion,' edited by Winward Prescott. At the time of publication in 1919, Prescott credited Harrod with having 'outstripped all other Canadian artists' in terms of number of Ex Libris, 'having some fifty odd plates to his credit.' However, Prescott was not entirely kind in his evaluation of Harrod's work saying, 'His pictorial plates are not as successful as his armorials, for he is rather weak on figures. His recent heraldic Ex Libris are modelled on good ideals although in some cases the draughtsmanship leaves something to be desired.' Harrod's own collection of bookplates eventually went in part to the British Museum. He died in Newmarket, Ontario. A copy of this ex libris is also available in the Philippe Masson Ex Libris Collection at McGill University.
References:
1) Artists in Canada. (2008). Harrod, Stanley. Retrieved January 12, 2012, from http://www.pro.rcip-chin.gc.ca/bd-dl/aac-aic-eng.jsp?emu=en.aich:/Proxapp/ws/aich/user/wwwe/Record&upp=0&m=1&w=NATIVE%28%27ARTIST+ph+words+%27%27Stanley+Harrod%27%27%27%29&order=native%28%27every+AR%27%29
2) Colgate, W. (1943). Canadian art: Its origin & development. Toronto: The Ryerson press. National Gallery of Canada. (2012). Stanley Harrod. Retrieved January 12, 2012, from <http://www.gallery.ca/en/see/collections/artist.php?iartistid=2331>
3) Prescott, W., Harrod, S., & Ayearst, M. J. (1919). A list of Canadian bookplates: With a review of the history of ex libris in the dominion. Boston: Printed for the Society of Bookplate Bibliophiles
4) The Philippe Masson Ex Libris Collection at McGill University, from http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/bookplates/

RBSC Bookplates

2012

Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from Rare Books and Special Collections: http://rbsc.library.ubc.ca

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