_Book-plates_ (Vol. iii., p. 495.).--MR. PARSONS, it appears, limits his
inquiries to English book-plates, about which I cannot offer any
information. It is certain, however, that book-plates were used on the
Continent at a very early period. I remember to have seen one, from a
wood-block, which was cut by Albert Dürer for his friend Pirkheimer. As it
is sixteen years since I saw it at the Imperial Library at Vienna, I cannot
be expected to give a precise description; but (as far as I recollect) the
wording of it was as follows: "Bilibaldi Pirckheimeri et Amicorum."
A copy which I possess of Vesalius's great anatomical work (Basil, 1555)
has the book-plate of a former Duke of Mecklenburg pasted inside the cover.
It is a woodcut, ten inches by six and a half, representing the ducal arms,
surrounded by an ornamented border. Beneath are the date and inscription:
15 E 75
H. G. V. V. G.
VLRICH H. Z. ME-
CKELNBVRG.
I do not know what the first six letters stand for, nor is it worth
inquiring. The latter part of the inscription--"Ulrich Herzog zu
Mecklenburg"--identifies the former possessor of the volume.