The Mark of a Reader
We are delighted to offer this single-owner collection of bookmarks ranging from ornate precious metal examples to historical commemoratives and quirky collectables. The collection will be included in our 10th January Home & Interiors auction - view here.
The earliest currently known bookmark dates to the 6th century AD. The decorative leather and vellum-lined fragment was discovered under the ruins of the Apa Jeremiah monastery in Egypt, attached to the cover of a Coptic codex. European monasteries in the middle ages also used leather and vellum as markers, often in the form of a triangle, but sometimes more elaborate designs with a rotating disc to indicate the column on the page.
One of the first references to a bookmark dates to 1584, when Queen Elizabeth I was given a fringed silk bookmark by the Queen’s Printer, Christopher Barker. Barker was also a draper, so silk and fringing were his go-to materials.
Until relatively recently, books were prohibitively expensive, and folding pages could cause damage; therefore bookbinders and printers developed integral ribbons. Bookmarks soon became separate items in themselves, often just a strip of fabric (as paper was still expensive), then becoming more personalised. With industrialisation and mass production, bookmarks began to be produced in many materials and styles. Personal dedication, public messaging, souvenirs, advertising (such as the early celluloid example here), with mottoes and motifs, family crests and so on. From simple card or a silk ribbon, to leather, treen, tortoiseshell, malachite and other stones, bakelite, silver and brass examples. Decorated with embroidery, tassels, repousse engraving, paint, enamel and gemstones, the scope became almost infinite. And of course, with improvements in printing, education, and the growth of public libraries, more people had access to books than ever before.
Bookmarks could be produced to catch the zeitgeist, such as the Egyptian Revival sparked after the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922, to commemorate a Queen's anniversary, as merchandise linked to a hugely successful cartoon like Felix the Cat here, or great national events such as the Empire Exhibition. They could reflect a person's pet interest or passion, such as dogs, ships, and pixies, stand as a reminder of a wonderful week in Scarborough or Southend, display Celtic, Chinese or religious motifs, or even a 'lucky' Swastika...
A bookmark could say almost as much about a person as the book they are reading - although, I won’t judge you for using a train ticket or shop receipt – as long as you don’t fold the pages down.
Along with bookplates, bookmarks are an area of collectable ephemera with a large following and collectors associations. Their individuality gives them a home within other collecting spheres such as militaria, political propaganda, Royalty memorabilia, horse enthusiasts etc. This lovely collection contains a wide range of examples and was curated over many years by our client.
My personal favourite is the charming Edwardian cat and mouse on a marble cheese-wedge weighted example at the top of this page; a rare survivor with both sections to either end of the ribbon and the cat’s eyes still intact, but there are so many quirky and collectable pieces to choose from.
The collection will be sold on 10th January starting at 10am
View the collection here.
Extra images available upon request
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