Guide to the Samuel X. Radbill Collection of Sara Eugenia Blake Bookplates
OCLC No.:
1119556026
Title:
Samuel X. Radbill Collection of Sara Eugenia Blake Bookplates.
Creator:
Radbill, Samuel X., 1901-1987.
Dates:
approximately 1941-1957
Extent:
1 box (1.12 linear feet)
Abstract:
Samuel X. Radbill’s compilation of material created by and relating to the work of 20th-century bookplate designer Sara Eugenia (Sally) Blake. Includes printings of Blake’s bookplates, etched metal plates, correspondence, manuscript notes and drafts related to the publication of “Checklist of Bookplates by Sara Eugenia Blake” (1955), and two booklets of Blake’s bookplates.
Language:
Material is in English.
Access Restrictions:
Collection is open for research use. Copyright restrictions may apply; please contact repository for requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce the materials.
Provenance:
This collection was purchased by the Grolier Club from Thomas G. Boss in August, 2019. It had been previously owned by Samuel X. Radbill.
Location:
Grolier Club, 47 East 60th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022-1098.
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Samuel X. Radbill Collection of Sara Eugenia Blake Bookplates, approximately 1941-1957, The Grolier Club of New York.
About the Finding Aid:
This finding aid was prepared by Kendra Meyer in Microsoft Word at the Grolier Club, August 2019.
Biographical/Historical Note:
Sara Eugenia (Sally) Blake (1886-1973) was a librarian at Tufts Medical and Dental Schools in Boston as well as a 20th-century artist, bookplate designer and collector. Her work is largely influenced by other artists and genres, such as Harunobu Suzuki, Kate Greenaway, Endre Vadász, and the style of plates in Godey’s Lady’s Books. Described as a ‘copyist in most of her work,’1 Blake regularly etched the name or initials of the source artist in the plate signature along with her own. Blake primarily executed work for herself, family, friends, colleagues and prominent bookplate collectors of the day. Her main period of design activity seems to have begun after 1941.
Samuel X. Radbill was a Philadelphia pediatrician, as well as a collector of bookplates and historical medical texts. He was a personal friend and sponsor of Blake, and prepared the “Checklist of Bookplates by Sara Eugenia Blake,” published in the American Society of Bookplate Collectors and Designers 1952/53 Yearbook (1955).
Related Materials Note:
The Grolier Club Archives contain several other bookplate collections. These include but are not limited to: the Grolier Club Bookplate Collection, Maria Gerard Messenger Collection of Women’s Bookplates, 17th century to 1930s, Montclair Art Museum Bookplate Collection, Spencer Van B. Nichols Bookplate Collection, and the William H. Helfand Bookplate Collection, 1776-1993 (bulk 1897-1993).
Radbill, Samuel X. “Checklist of Bookplates by Sara Eugenia Blake.” American Society of Bookplate Collectors and Designers Yearbook 1952/53, 1955, 27–37.
Note: The Grolier Club holds a copy of this journal.
Sara Eugenia Blake Papers, 1750-1950; Call number: MS#0125; 15.5 linear feet; Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library; https://clio.columbia.edu/catalog/4079649
Samuel X. Radbill correspondence concerning bookplates I. Identifier: MSS 2/037-02; 4 linear feet; Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia; https://cpparchives.org/repositories/2/resources/1356
Access points:
Names
Radbill, Samuel X., 1901-1987.
Blake, Sara Eugenia, 1886-1973.
Baer, Carlyle S. (Carlyle Solomon)
Diamond, Elizabeth W.
Ercolini, Mary Alice.
Greenaway, Kate, 1846-1901.
Godey’s Lady’s Book.
Pace, Irene Greene Dwen.
Suzuki, Harunobu, 1725?-1770
Vadász, Endre, 1901-1944.
Subjects
Bookplates. American.
Bookplates. Collectors and collecting.
Bookplates. Design.
Women’s bookplates. Specimens.
Genres
Bookplates.
Correspondence.
Manuscripts (documents)
Etchings (prints)
Occupations
Graphic artists.
Bookplate designers.
Women artists.
Women bookplate designers.
Scope and Content Note:
The largest component of this collection is comprised of bookplates designed by Sara Eugenia (Sally) Blake. There are 106 loose printed plates representing much of Blake’s oeuvre. Five of the plates are also accompanied by the etched metal plates. Many of the designs include her SEB initials signed in the plate, often accompanied by Sc to represent her role as engraver. Blake also regularly included the initials of the original artist from whom she sourced the imagery. The vast majority of the imprints in this collection were signed in pencil by Blake. Of these plates, 76 are works described in the published “Checklist of Bookplates by Sara Eugenia Blake,” (American Society of Bookplate Collectors and Designers Yearbook 1952/53, 1955). It is surmised that the remaining 30 were executed by Blake and collected by Radbill after the date of that publication. Besides Blake herself, frequent exlibris named in this collection are Mary Alice Ercolini, Irene Greene Dwen Pace, and Elizabeth Diamond. Dating was derived from Radbill’s Checklist as well as notations on the physical specimens.
The collection also includes two bound booklets: A Garland of Flowers, published by Diamond’s Hyacinth Press and Bookplates by Sara Eugenia Blake, likely published by the same, which contain tipped in examples of Blake’s bookplates. Additional documentary material in this collection was collected by Samuel X. Radbill, and includes biographical sketches, notes, drafts and correspondence. The papers primarily describe the study and collection of Blake’s work by Radbill and the planning of the Checklist. Correspondents include Radbill, Sara Eugenia Blake, and Carlyle S. Baer, secretary of the American Society of Bookplate Collectors and Designers.
Arrangement Note:
Numerical plate numbers were assigned by the archivist for collection description, organization and citation. The first 76 of these accord with the Checklist published by Samuel X. Radbill in the American Society of Bookplate Collectors and Designers 1952/53 Yearbook (1955). These plates are arranged chronologically with the corresponding Checklist number noted. The additional 30 plates which date to after the publication of the Checklist were organized according to date. Undated bookplates were arranged by name.
Container List:
|
Box
|
Folder
|
Title
|
Date
|
|
1
|
1
|
Papers regarding ‘Checklist ofBookplates of Sara Eugenia Blake’
|
1953-1957
|
|
1
|
2
|
A Garland of Flowers; Hyacinth Press, with letter from Blake toRadbillenclosed
|
1944,letter dated 1966
|
|
1
|
3
|
Bookplates by Sara Eugenia Blake; [Hyacinth Press?]
|
undated
|
|
Box
|
Plate
|
Exlibris
|
Date
|
Number in published Checklist
|
|
1
|
1
|
Sara Blake
|
1941
|
1
|
|
1
|
2
|
Sara Blake
|
1941
|
2
|
|
1
|
3
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1941
|
4
|
|
1
|
4
|
Sara Blake
|
1941
|
5
|
|
1
|
5
|
Sara Blake
|
1941
|
6
|
|
1
|
6
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1942
|
8
|
|
1
|
7
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1942
|
10
|
|
1
|
8
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1942
|
12a
|
|
1
|
9
|
Elizabeth W. Diamond
|
1943
|
13
|
|
1
|
10
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1943
|
14
|
|
1
|
11
|
Sara Blake
|
1943
|
15
|
|
1
|
12
|
TeresaNeilan
|
1943
|
16
|
|
1
|
13
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1943
|
17
|
|
1
|
14
|
Elizabeth Diamond
|
1943
|
18
|
|
1
|
15
|
H. B. Muir
|
1944
|
19
|
|
1
|
16
|
Ellen MargueriteWiechel
|
1944
|
20
|
|
1
|
17
|
Emma Strauss Adams
|
1944
|
21
|
|
1
|
18
|
George Henry Corey
|
1944
|
22
|
|
1
|
19
|
Carol
|
1944
|
23
|
|
1
|
20
|
Elizabeth Diamond
|
1944
|
24
|
|
1
|
21
|
Sally El
|
1944
|
25
|
|
1
|
22
|
IoneKlenkWiechel
|
1945
|
26
|
|
1
|
23
|
Irene Doyle
|
1945
|
27
|
|
1
|
24
|
Elizabeth Diamond
|
1945
|
28
|
|
1
|
25
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
1946
|
29
|
|
1
|
26
|
Edith M. Baker
|
1946
|
30
|
|
1
|
27
|
Edith M. Baker
|
1946
|
30
|
|
1
|
28
|
ErnestButtrick
|
1946
|
31
|
|
1
|
29
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1946
|
32
|
|
1
|
30
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1946
|
33
|
|
1
|
31
|
Irene GreeneDwenPace
|
1947
|
34
|
|
1
|
32
|
Irene GreeneDwenPace
|
1947
|
34
|
|
1
|
33
|
H. B. Muir
|
1947
|
35
|
|
1
|
34
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1947
|
36
|
|
1
|
35
|
Irene and Ernest Pace's Book
|
1947
|
37
|
|
1
|
36
|
Elizabeth W. Diamond
|
1947
|
38
|
|
1
|
37
|
Irene GreeneDwenPace
|
1947
|
39
|
|
1
|
38
|
Leslie Victor Smith
|
1947
|
40
|
|
1
|
39
|
Frances McMahonLyng
|
1947
|
41
|
|
1
|
40
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
1947
|
42
|
|
1
|
41
|
Etta B. Heath
|
1948
|
43
|
|
1
|
42
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
1948
|
44
|
|
1
|
43
|
RelmaS. U. Hansen
|
1948
|
45
|
|
1
|
44
|
Anne Denny Blake
|
1948
|
46
|
|
1
|
45
|
Edith Ellis Smith
|
1948
|
47
|
|
1
|
46
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1948
|
48
|
|
1
|
47
|
Irene GreeneDwenPace
|
1949
|
49
|
|
1
|
48
|
IreneDwenPace
|
1949
|
50
|
|
1
|
49
|
Irene and Ernest Pace
|
1949
|
51
|
|
1
|
50
|
Samuel X.Radbill, M.D.
|
1949
|
52
|
|
1
|
51
|
W. E.Daignault
|
1949
|
53
|
|
1
|
52
|
Irene GreeneDwenPace
|
1949
|
54
|
|
1
|
53
|
W. E.Daignault
|
1949
|
55
|
|
1
|
54
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1950
|
57
|
|
1
|
55
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1950
|
58
|
|
1
|
56
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
1951
|
61
|
|
1
|
57
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
1951
|
62
|
|
1
|
58
|
Rosemary Roberts
|
1951
|
63
|
|
1
|
59
|
Dwight Remington
|
1951
|
64
|
|
1
|
60
|
Marion Isabel Miller
|
1952
|
66
|
|
1
|
61
|
Dorothea Markham
|
1952
|
67
|
|
1
|
62
|
Irene GreeneDwenPace
|
1953
|
68
|
|
1
|
63
|
Irene GreeneDwenPace
|
1953
|
69
|
|
1
|
64
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
1953
|
70
|
|
1
|
65
|
Dr. JuanCatasus
|
1953
|
71
|
|
1
|
66
|
IreneDwenPace
|
1953
|
72
|
|
1
|
67
|
Lois O. Goldstein
|
1953
|
74
|
|
1
|
68
|
Alice HitchcockErcolini
|
1954
|
75
|
|
1
|
69
|
Edward Louis Sleeper
|
1954
|
76
|
|
1
|
70
|
Irving Glickman
|
1954
|
77
|
|
1
|
71
|
IreneDwenPace
|
1954
|
78
|
|
1
|
72
|
Ernest Milton Pace
|
1954
|
79
|
|
1
|
73
|
John ArthurAlmquist
|
c.1954
|
80
|
|
1
|
74
|
Joaquin Ma Casas yRos
|
1954
|
81
|
|
1
|
75
|
PepitaPallé
|
1954
|
82
|
|
1
|
76
|
Irene and Ernest Pace
|
1955
|
83
|
|
1
|
77
|
AngelitaSoléDe Miguel
|
1955
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
78
|
Ernest and Lucie Huber
|
1956
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
79
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
1958
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
80
|
Mary LouGrantson
|
1959
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
81
|
Maria Alicia
|
1959
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
82
|
Thor Bjorn Schyberg
|
1959
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
83
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
1959
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
84
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
[1959]
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
85
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
86
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
87
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
88
|
Sara Eugenia Blake
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
89
|
Edith Mildred Baker
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
90
|
Grant and Frances Corby
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
91
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
92
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
93
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
94
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
95
|
Mary AliceErcolini
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
96
|
Frieda Nikolai
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
97
|
Irene Pace
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
98
|
Irene Pace
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
99
|
IreneDwenPace
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
100
|
Irene GreeneDwenPace
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
101
|
Irene GreeneDwenPace
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
102
|
Irene GreeneDwenPace
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
103
|
Irene and Ernest Pace
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
104
|
PepitaPallé
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
105
|
FrancesRadbill
|
undated
|
n/a
|
|
1
|
106
|
Samuel X.Radbill
|
undated
|
n/a
|
1. Radbill, Samuel X. “Checklist of
Bookplates by Sara Eugenia Blake.” American
Society of Bookplate Collectors and Designers Yearbook 1952/53, 1955, 31.