Ex libris of Laurence Hutton

hutton

One of several bookplates used by Laurence Hutton (1843–1904) was drawn by his friend and colleague at Charles Scribners’s Sons, Edwin Howland Blashfield (1848-1936). The plate shows Hutton’s library with the theatrical mask of tragedy and a statue of William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), who Hutton met as a young boy. The graphic arts collection is fortunate to hold the original drawing for this ex libris.

Together, Blashfield and his wife, Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield (ca.1859-1918), wrote and illustrated a number of magazine articles for Scribners, as well as six monographs. A copy of their Italian Cities (1902), was inscribed to Hutton as follows: “To the dear Huttons, with Xmas greetings from their friends, Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Edwin Howland Blashfield.” [Rare Books: Laurence Hutton Collection (HTN) N6911 .B6]

Edwin Howland Blashfield (1848-1936), Laurence Hutton bookplate, ca. 1900. Pen and ink drawing. Graphic Arts Collection GA 2006.02562
thackeray-figurineHutton’s figure of Thackeray, once on his bookshelf, is held in Princeton’s collection as well.