Interest in book-plates is growing rapidly in this country. In the most artistic brochure (No. 2) recently produced by the New Zealand Ex Libris Society no less than 200 New Zealand plates were listed. And the number is growing. Now, before I go any further, what is a book-plate? William Moore, the Australian art critic gives an effectively simple definition as follows: “A book-plate is a badge or label fastened securely within a book giving a polite and artistic indication of the rightful owner.” Here are some other definitions:—

The late Sir Edmond Gosse: “The outward and visible mark of the citizenship of the book lover is his bookplate.” Eden Phillpotts expresses himself thus: “emphatically the ideal bookplate should not be a picture of the master's crest, or his coat, his house, or his library, but a line between his own personality and the treasure it adorns—a sign for other eyes, by which the possessor holds for ever a sort of spiritual right in his volume, that owners to come should recognise and respect … there should be close identity with him only, for whose sake the work of art was created.”

Having arrived at a point where we understand just what a book-plate is, it is interesting to know that book-plate or ex libris societies exist all over the world, even in Japan and China. New Zealand is issuing a strong challenge to Australia in the numerical and artistic force of its plates. So that readers of this page may gather some idea of the type of book plate being designed in New Zealand, I propose to reproduce each issue one of the more interesting designs. The first of these appropriately is that of the late Alex. H. Turnbull who left us the magnificent Turnbull Library. The design is by Praetorius.

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That indefatigable young Wellington journalist Mr. N. F. Hoggard who has run successfully, “Spilt Ink” for the last few years proposes to issue a new monthly paper entitled “New Zealand Amateur Theatre” which will be devoted exclusively to the criticism of plays produced by amateur groups, jottings of plays produced overseas, and to current theatrical topics, including the work of New Zealand dramatists. The yearly subscription will be 2/6.

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G. B. Lancaster's “Pageant” has, considering the bad times, achieved something of a sales record in New Zealand, nearly 2000 copies having been disposed of to date. The Australian and New Zealand rights were bought by the Endeavour Press which company produced an edition which has been much more popular than the smaller English edition. G. B. Lancaster, or Miss Edith Lyttelton as we know her, is still in the Dominion and is writing a novel with a New Zealand setting. Meanwhile her last novel “The World is Yours” is being published by Unwins. The Australian and New Zealand rights will probably again be held by the Endeavour Press.

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Miss Pamela Travers whose bright pen sparkled in the pages of the Christchurch “Sun” some years ago, has been selected for special mention by some reviewers of “Recent Poetry 1923–33,” an anthology edited by Mrs. Harold Munro. When in the Dominion Miss Travers also did some bright work in prose and verse for the now defunct “Triad.”

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Among the galaxy of writers coming to this country this year is Elinor Mordaunt, the popular English novelist who won applause from the reviewers with her novel “Full Circle,” reputed to be a reply to Somerset Maugham's alleged attack on Hardy's “Cakes and Ale.”

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Some Maori proverbs that I culled recently from an old book on Maori lore:—

Women and land are the causes which destroy men.

Let him go on asking, his strength lies in asking idle questions.

Good books are like true friends: they will never fail us, never cease to instruct —never cloy.

The fame of a warrior is precarious, while that of a man strong to cultivate food is lasting.

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Nelson folk hug to their breasts a fond memory of the description given of their little township by Max O'Rell, way back in the last century, when he spoke of it as being “an idyll, a gem, a miniature Arcady.” No writer has lavished such ecstatic praise on any other part of New Zealand.

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For the benefit of all interested (and those who ought to be interested), and in order to make this page as comprehensive as possible concerning the activities of publishers in New Zealand, they are invited to forward to “Shibli Bagarag,” for review, copies from the presses of all publications. New Zealand is such a glutton for reading matter that advance notices and criticism are eagerly looked for.

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