Open Collections

Barrett, William Phillips

Printed in black ink on cream colored paper. The interior of a private library or study room is depicted. The right-hand side of the room is lined with a wall of books, which is topped with several carved busts. In the centre of the room, a large reading table holds several books and is surrounded by three chairs – an upholstered armchair on the left and two wooden chairs on the right. The books are heavy, bound manuscripts and one is open to display an illuminated frontispiece. In the background, a large bay window looks to a building with a spire that is surrounded by shrubbery.

Private libraries

Prints

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Although the identity of Robert Hall is unknown, he is recognized for being an avid book collector who had particular interest in books published by Kelmscott Press at Hammersmith (1891-1898). On the table in the bookplate image, works from the Kelmscott Press are visible, including William Morris’ News from Nowhere (1890), The Story of the Glittering Pain (1891), and his translation of Beowulf (1895). Morris was a regular collaborator with Kelmscott. The open book on the table is The Wood Beyond the World, which is open to a page featuring a Morris-designed woodcut border and frontispiece. In the foreground, leaning against the frame of the image, is the Press’ 1896 edition of Chaucer. The books are depicted bound in full limp vellum tied with silk ribbons with gilt-lettered spines, which is distinctive of Kelmscott Press. There are many examples of copper-engraved bookplates designed and printed by William P. Barrett dated to the early 20th century and bearing the inscription INV. W.P.B. (Examples can be found in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, and university libraries throughout North America). There is little historical or biographical information available about Barrett’s life or training.
References:
1) -----. (n.d.). “Barrett, William P., Ex Libris Robert Hall 1902,” Shared Shelf Commons, ARTstor. http://search.sscommons.org/object/SS7729421_7729421_631123
2) Cody, David. (2014). Morris and the Kelmscott Press. Retrieved from http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/morris/kelmscott.html
3) University of Delaware. (2014). Brewer, William Augustus, collector. William Augustus Brewer bookplate collection circa 1700-2000. Retrieved from http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/findaids/html/gra0115.html
4) University of Glasgow Special Collections Department. (n.d.). Graphic Design and Visual Culture in Europe 1890-1945: Private Press Books in Special Collections: Kelmscott Press. Retrieved from http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/teach/privatepress/kelmscott.html
5) University of Illinois. (n.d.). John Starr Stewart Ex Libris Collection, Hall, Robert. Retrieved from http://imagesearchnew.library.illinois.edu/cdm/ref/collection/exlibris/id/1936

RBSC Bookplates

2017-09-27

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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