A Journey in Bookplates: The Art and Life of California Designer Beulah Mitchell Clute

Sponsored by the Book Club of California.

Come along on a collector’s journey as Claudia Smukler takes you through the fascinating world of bookplates, also known as ex-libris. The term ex-libris refers to all marks of provenance in a book, including stamps, labels, and names written on the inside cover. Book owners have been doing this for centuries. The bookplate is a subset of ex-libris, specifically a printed edition, often a relief or intaglio print that may include an image or motif with special meaning for the owner. It can be pasted inside their favorite books—or not. The most artistic ones serve as the currency for friendly exchange between designers and collectors.

Studied up-close each miniature print reveals a multi-faceted story. Ms. Smukler will share visual highlights from her personal collection that include selected works by the accomplished bookplate designer, Beulah Mitchell Clute (1873-1958). She will present additional bookplates about California and the West and some contemporary prints that express a new spirit of revival for this centuries-old art form.

A bookplate broadens the history of a book as it is passed along from the owner to another reader, and then another. The life of a book—especially one with a bookplate—has many stories it can tell.

An in-person and virtual presentation by Claudia Smukler, visual artist, writer, publisher, and collector

To register for the online event: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-X8RV5oRRHmtH6e8ctQIoA#/registration