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[Bookplate for Henry Augustus Sims]

In red ink on white paper, a border that contains red and black text and black decorative designs. Within the border, in black ink, there is an angled Escutcheon parted per pale. The dexter side is gules (red), containing a chevronel or (gold) with two mullets of six points, pierced, in chief, and one battle axe in base. The sinister side is quartered per cross by a cross argent (silver), with the dexter chief and sinister base quarters in azure (blue) and the sinister chief and dexter base quarters in gules. In each quarter save the sinister base there is a pheon proper. Above the Esctucheon, the mantling is topped by a wreath, from which a lion emerges, holding a battle axe. Below the Escutcheon is a banner bearing the motto, 'Ferio Tego.'.

Heraldry

Prints

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A fairly well-known nineteenth-century architect, Henry Augustus Sims was born in Philadelphia on December 22, 1832. After having completed high school in Philadelphia, he studied civil engineering there and practiced that profession in Georgia, Minnesota and Canada ; from 1851 to 1855, he worked as an engineer and draughtsman for the Bytown (what is now Ottawa) and Prescott Railway. Following his engineering career, Sims studied architecture in Canada and practiced the art in Ottawa from 1858 until 1866. He married Mary Jones of Ottawa in 1864, becoming a Canadian citizen, but returned to Philadelphia in 1866, where he continued his work as an architect until his death on July 10, 1875. For many years, Sims held the position of Secretary for Foreign Correspondence of the American Institute of Architects. In addition to designing a number of city and country residences, Sims, known to have favoured the modern Gothic style of architecture, also designed a number of public buildings in Ontario and Pennsylvania, primarily in the neo-Gothic style. Some of his notable works include the Edwardsburgh Township Hall in eastern Ontario (1858), the County Court House of Hagerstown, Maryland (1874) and the Montgomery County Almshouse in Pennsylvania (c. 1873). It is possible that this bookplate was created in Ottawa during Sims's time there, but may also have originated from Philadelphia.
References:
1) Freehafer, Nancy J. 'Henry Augustus Sims.' Montgomery County Pennsylvania Genealogy. PAGenWeb Project, 11 Jan. 2009. <http://montgomery.pa-roots.com/Biographies/HenryAugustusSims.html>.
2) 'Henry Augustus Sims fonds.' ArchivesCanada.ca. Canadian Archival Information Network, n.d. < http://www.archivescanada.ca/english/search/ItemDisplay.asp?sessionKey>=1143412449030_206_191_57_196&l=0&lvl=2&v=0&coll=1&itm=263424&rt=1&bill=1>.
3) Hill, Robert G. 'Sims, Henry Augustus.' Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada: 1800-1950. n.p., n.d. <http://www.dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1307>.
4) Thomas, George E., Jeffrey A. Cohen, and Michael J. Lewis. Frank Furness: The Complete Works. New York: Princeton Architectural P, 1996.

RBSC Bookplates

2012

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