What is an Ex Libris?
An Ex Libris (from the Latin ex libris—“from the books of” or “from the library of”) is a small mark of ownership traditionally placed on the inside cover of a book. It can be a stamp, a sticker, or a graphic label featuring the owner’s name or initials, their coat of arms, a symbol, or an image related to their personality and interests.
But an Ex Libris is much more than a mark that says, “This book is mine.”
A Brief History of Ex Libris
The tradition of Ex Libris originated in Europe during the 15th century, shortly after the invention of the printing press. At that time, books were rare and valuable items, owned primarily by wealthy individuals, religious institutions, and libraries.
One of the oldest known Ex Libris was created around 1450–1480 for the German nobleman Hans Knabensberg, known by the nickname “Iglers.” It is a small print that indicates the book’s belonging to his library.
Initially, ex libris served a purely practical function—to indicate the book’s owner and to protect valuable volumes from being lost or misappropriated. Over time, however, these small marks began to reveal much more about their owners.
They began to feature coats of arms, initials, animals, plants, mythological figures, and various symbols related to the owner’s life, profession, interests, or character.
Thus, the Ex Libris gradually evolved into a small form of graphic art—a unique personal portrait condensed into a single image.
Ex Libris Today
Today, an Ex Libris is no longer a necessity in the traditional sense. Instead, it has become a personal mark and a small work of art, adding a unique touch to a book collection and making a library feel even more personal.
An Ex Libris does more than simply identify the owner of a book — it tells a story about them, reflecting their personality, passions, and interests.
My Ex Libris
For the SoEXHIBITION ARDA exhibition, I had the pleasure of creating my own Ex Libris for my personal book collection.
Of course, it had to feature Arda, my beloved black dog, who is a constant presence in both my life and many of my illustrations.
For me, this is the true essence of an Ex Libris: creating a small, distinctive mark that is deeply personal and uniquely yours.
What Would Your Ex Libris Look Like?
It could feature your favourite animal, a plant, a special place, an object, a symbol, or something entirely personal. You don’t even need to have a clear idea to begin with — we can explore possibilities together and turn them into an original, one-of-a-kind illustration.
If you’d like an Ex Libris of your own for your personal library, you can commission a custom illustration here:
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EX LIBRIS по поръчка
120.00€
