John Pine (1690–1756), engraver
The Royal Library bookplate

In 1736 John Pine was paid nearly £38 for engraving and printing 28,200 bookplates in four sizes to be added to the King’s books. Featuring Apollo and Minerva flanking the University’s arms, the bookplate was usually pasted to the back of the title page or on a front endpaper. The smallest size of all required a redesign, still incorporating the University armorial and George’s portrait, but removing the figures of Minerva and Apollo. The books remained, however, as an essential part of the design. This example is inside a Venetian imprint of Orlando furioso (1600).

Y.6.51 (Royal Library)