Gustaf Berndtsson Bookplate Collection | Special collections, archives and manuscripts
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Gustaf Berndtsson Bookplate Collection

Gustaf Berndtsson (1875-1964), was a treasurer, as well as a collector of books and bookplates.

About the collection

Berndtsson was mainly a book collector, and considered his bookplate collection as a supplement to the 2nd edition of Svenska bibliotek och exlibris by C. M. Carlander. He wrote: ”As I have not reasonably applied myself to expand this collection, it includes only about 1 000 items, but largely older ones." 

The collection amounts to 13 folios of bookplates. Privately, Berndtsson used two different bookplates, presented in the right hand column. 

Acquisition history

Berndtsson sold his collection to his friend Arvid Mårtensson, who, upon his death, bequeathed both bookplate collections to the Gothenburg University Library. Thereby, Berndtsson's collection should be perceived as part of the collection of bookseller Arvid Mårtensson. The logic of the provenances is that whoever was the last owner of a collection or a book has the honour of being held as such, but since the bookplates of Berndtsson are still held together as a cohesive collection, we have chosen to present them as a collection in its own right. 

From the collection.
From the collection.
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson
From the collection.
From the collection.
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson
From the collection.
From the collection.
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson
From the collection.
From the collection.
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson
One of Berndtsson's bookplates, drawn by himself in 1908.
One of Berndtsson's bookplates, drawn by himself in 1908.
Photo: Håkan Granath

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

Berndtsson's second bookplate. Drawn by Evald Blomberg in 1914.
Berndtsson's second bookplate. Drawn by Evald Blomberg in 1914.
From the collection.
From the collection.
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson
Bookplate of the Gothenburg elementary high school teacher's training college for women.
Bookplate of the Gothenburg elementary high school teacher's training college for women.
Photo: Gunnar Jönsson

Text:

Stefan Benjaminsson

Biography

Gustaf Berndtsson (1875-1964) is usually given the professional title of treasurer or office manager. He was born in Fuxerna (Älvsborg county), but lived until his death in Gothenburg. 

Carl-Olof Lång mentions in his portrait of Berndtsson in the 1955 issue of Bokvännen that he was also a ”yachtsman, gymnastics instructor, bookbinder, gardener and chess player." The gymnastics in question was likely the Ling system, as the personal bookplate of Bernström depicts (among other things) a plaster bust with the inscription "Ling", much resembling the portrait of Per Henrik Ling as he is rendered at the memorial plaque at the Annelund estate. 

Berndtsson also had a considerable book collection which was eventually sold through the Gumperts antiquarian bookshop. 

Read more

Berndtsson, G. E. Allsvensk samling, 1947, p. 76 f.

Berndtsson, Gustaf Emil & Knudtzon, Erik J., Min katalog: två gamla bokvänner ger nybörjare råd om katalogisering av en privat boksamling, Sällsk. Bokvännerna, Stockholm, 1961.

Katalog nr 50 oktober 1966 över en vald kollektion ur kassör G. E. Berndtssons boksamling, p. 3 f.

Litteraturbanken

Lång, Carl-Olof. Barnböcker som köksinredning. In: Bokvännen no. 11, 1955, p. 241.

Swedish Bookplate Association

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 
  • 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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