A supralibros (from

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

''supra'' = on and ''libros'' = books in the

accusative case In grammar, the accusative case ( abbreviated ) of a noun is the grammatical case used to receive the direct object of a transitive verb. In the English language, the only words that occur in the accusative case are pronouns: "me", "him", "he ...

) is a coat of arms or

monogram A monogram is a motif (visual arts), motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbo ...

indicating the ownership of a book. Unlike the

bookplate An , also known as a bookplate (or book-plate, as it was commonly styled until the early 20th century), is a printed or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the front endpaper, to indicate ownership. Simple typographical bookplates are ...

or ex-libris, which is stamped or pasted inside a book, the supralibros is applied to the book's cover. Supralibros (plural is also 'supralibros') usually are gilt or blocked on the upper (front) cover of a book, and sometimes on the rear cover as well. The term is also applied to such a mark on the spine. Just like the ex-libris the supralibros is an expression of pride of the owner of the book; apart from being an owner's mark it is often also an adornment. Supralibros first were used during the

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...

, when the first large private libraries were formed. Famous bibliophiles used much sought-after supralibros that may make a book valuable, for instance Jean Grolier, a renowned collector.In Search of Supralibros at The Private Library
/ref> Another often encountered type of supralibros is the school prize binding, a book that was awarded to an especially gifted pupil, bound in vellum or leather and stamped with the coat of arms of the city or the school that awarded the prize, with a bookplate giving the name of the pupil, dated and signed by the headmaster and other officials. After the 18th century the supralibros went into decline, although full leather school prize bindings with a supralibros continued to be used well into the 20th century.

Blackwell's Blackwell UK, also known as Blackwell's and Blackwell Group, is a British academic book retailer and library supply service owned by Waterstones. It was founded in 1879 by Benjamin Henry Blackwell, after whom the chain is named, on Broad Stree ...

, a large booksellers in

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

, will bind books and apply the supralibros of the buyer's college for a fee, usually for books bought as prize bindings.

References

*Helmuth Hellwig: ''Handbuch der Einbandkunde''. Especially vol. II with an inventory of supralibros. Hamburg, Maximilian-Gesellschaft, 1953–1955. {{Authority control Book design Bookbinding