Gothenburg University Library Bookplate Collection | Special collections, archives and manuscripts
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Gothenburg University Library Bookplate Collection

The Humanities Library has its own bookplate collection which has been assembled through decades of exchanges and donations.

About the collection

Eight boxes of Swedish bookplates, and eleven boxes of foreign bookplates - mainly German - from the 20th century. 

Through the decades of the 20th century when bookplate collecting was particularly in vogue, private individuals frequently wrote to the library requesting a bookplate for their collections, while at the same time providing their own. This is evident from a number of letters sent over the years from various people to the library staff. In 1937, the library received a larger donation from customs inspector Johan Albert Hallberg, including his bookplate collection, which was added to the library's own. 

Bookplate of the newspaper Amsterdamsche Courant. Lithography by Theo Neuhuys (1878-1921).
Bookplate of the newspaper Amsterdamsche Courant. Lithography by Theo Neuhuys (1878-1921).
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson
Bookplate of E. W. J. Gärtner, created by Bernhard Wenig (1871-1940).
Bookplate of E. W. J. Gärtner, created by Bernhard Wenig (1871-1940).
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson
Bookplate of Freiherrlich Carl von Rothschild’sche öffentliche Bibliothek.
Bookplate of Freiherrlich Carl von Rothschild’sche öffentliche Bibliothek.
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson
The bookplate of the Humanities Library.
The bookplate of the Humanities Library.

Access the collection

The collection is held in the closed stacks at the Humanities library. It is available for reading room use only. 

Catalogue
The collection has not been catalogued. 
There is no inventory. 

Humanities library
Renströmsgatan 4
405 30 GOTHENBURG
Phone: 031-786 17 45

Contact us

Bookplate of artist Richard Grimms (1873-1952).
Bookplate of artist Richard Grimms (1873-1952).
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson
Bookplate of the Luther Library of Wartburg.
Bookplate of the Luther Library of Wartburg.
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson
Bookplate of Carl G. F. Langenscheidt, Wannsee. Illustrated by Johannes Georg Barlösius (1864-1908).
Bookplate of Carl G. F. Langenscheidt, Wannsee. Illustrated by Johannes Georg Barlösius (1864-1908).
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson

Text:

Kristina Sevo

Read more

Björkbom, Carl, Svensk exlibrisbibliografi., Stockholm, 1939

General register of the Swedish Bookplate Association

Lagerström, Hugo, Svenska bokhantverkares exlibris, märken och signeter: en nutidskrönika om svenskt bokhantverk och svenska bokhantverkare, Bröd. Lagerström, Stockholm, 1943

Om exlibris: Några uppsatser ur Svenska exlibrisföreningens årsbok 1937, Bröd. Lagerström, Stockholm, 1938

Swedish Bookplate Association

Svenska exlibrisföreningen 1934 - 7 dec. - 1949, Stockholm, 1949.

Svensk exlibris-tidskrift: meddelanden för exlibrissamlare och bokvänner, Svensk exlibris-tidskrift, Stockholm, 1911-1917

Suggested research topics

  • An overview of the collection's contents. What is represented here, and how does it mirror the time and context of the material? 
  • Biographical research and the compilation of the collection at the library.
  • Selection of images.
  • Bookplates as an art form.
  • Printing techniques.
  • The structure and assembly of the collection. 
  • Artists represented in the collection. 
  • Please contact us if you have any suggested research topics you would like to share! 
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