Book investigating - step 3 - Inscriptions

People often wrote their names and other things about themselves in books. Handwriting styles have changed over the years, making it sometimes hard to read inscriptions. Some people also preferred to write in Latin.

On this page, there are a series of inscriptions from books, starting with a simple example and becoming a little more difficult. See if you can read each one.

Mouse-over 'see transcription' to check what each inscription says.

Sample Inscriptions

From - Tavernier, John. The newest and most compleat polite familiar letter-writer. Berwick, 1760. See Transcription
From - Withers, William. A letter to Sir Walter Scott, Bart., exposing certain fundamental errors in his late essay on planting, and containing observations on the pruning and thinning of woods, and maxims for profitable planting. London, 1828. See Transcription
From - Erasmus, DESIDERIUS. Enarratio triplex in Psalmum xxii. Basel, 1530. See Transcription
from - Boece, Hector. Scotorum historiae a prima gentis origine. Paris, 1527. See Transcription
From - Arthur, Timothy Shay: A book about boys. London, 1853. See Transcription
from - Boyle, Robert. Opera varia. Geneva, 1680. See Transcription
From - Reresby, William. A warning-piece to repentance. London, 1664. See Transcription
Book Detective's Latin - here are some handy Latin words that you might find inscribed in books
Ex Librisfrom the books of
eius liberhis book
hic liberthis liber
bibliothecalibrary
emptusbought
possessor verustrue owner
meusmy
BackBack NextNext
» Onward to Bookplates