“The bookplate, which emerged in the 1400s as a way to adorn a book with its owner’s coat of arms, has evolved over the centuries into an artistic genre of its own. Artists specialize in it; collectors swap pieces old and new, and sometimes commission a plate not for their books, but for its own sake.” (more)

See all 27 pieces from the slide show. Read a related post in The New York Times’ Books blog. Bookplates are also called “ex-libris” : learn more about them on Wikipedia.

Found via Infoneer (if you still don’t who’s Infoneer, meet the guy).