Only in recent years have authors used title-specific bookplates, usually supplied by their publishers. A useful place to find the kinds of bookplates previously used by well-known authors is on eBay where they are offered for sale.
A perusal of eBay offerings is revealing for the generic bookplates used by famous authors. One of the most common is a black-and-white bookplate with an open book in the lower left-hand corner. This bookplate, such as the one signed by Gore Vidal above, has been used by literally dozens of authors, probably because it is inexpensive. Among the authors using this bookplate are John Updike, Tom Clancy, Art Buchwald, and Harold Pinter.
Other common bookplates are either blank, or with single-line or leafed, classical borders. Some authors resort to their printed ex libris plate, which they sign, as Archur C. Clarke did in the bookplate above.
It is difficult to determine whether these authors purchase the bookplates themselves or if they are supplied by their publishers. I suspect the latter is the case, and that the publishers obtain them from a common New York source at the cheapest rate.
A bookplate with an image from the cover of the book being promoted, such as the Freakonomics bookplate, would appear to be a more desirable one for the book buyer, but publishers may question the expense of producing it if the book is not a bestseller.
Authors who are publicizing their own books have the option of producing their own bookplates inexpensively, as I’ve suggested earlier.
Other common bookplates are either blank, or with single-line or leafed, classical borders. Some authors resort to their printed ex libris plate, which they sign, as Archur C. Clarke did in the bookplate above.
It is difficult to determine whether these authors purchase the bookplates themselves or if they are supplied by their publishers. I suspect the latter is the case, and that the publishers obtain them from a common New York source at the cheapest rate.
A bookplate with an image from the cover of the book being promoted, such as the Freakonomics bookplate, would appear to be a more desirable one for the book buyer, but publishers may question the expense of producing it if the book is not a bestseller.
Authors who are publicizing their own books have the option of producing their own bookplates inexpensively, as I’ve suggested earlier.
Jack McLaughlin
booksigningbybookplate@gmail.com
booksigningbybookplate@gmail.com
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