Heraldry: Customs, Rules, and Styles

1983

Central CR489 VX91 1983

Omega Books

Even though shields, mantling, and crests are almost always present in early armorial bookplates, their designs did undergo slight changes, often according to trend and fashion. Indeed, there was (among others) the 17th century Carolian style, the Jacobean style (c. 1700-1745), the Chippendale style (c.1740-1780), and the Spade Shield style (c.1795-1820). Although changes can help date a bookplate, there were constancies. One aspect derived from heraldry is tinctures, a defined colour, within the shield. There are nine permitted ones: Gold (Or); Silver (Argent), Blue (Azure), Red (Gules), Black (Sable), Green (Vert), Purple (Purpure), Ermine (white), and Vair (Grey-Blue). The pages displayed in Von Volbroth’s book depict their individual pictorial representations.