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How to Print Bookplates

Bookplates are miniature works of art, glued inside the front cover of a book to identify the owner. The earliest bookplates were printed in Germany in the 16th century and the art continued through the 19th century. Bookplates were designed and engraved for individuals, libraries and businesses. They can be very elaborate, and generally match the design aesthetic of their times. Bookplates are very personal statements and often have text as well as artwork and the name of the book's owner. They can be downloaded from many different internet sites, including those of museums.

Things You'll Need

  • Printer
  • Printer-compatible labels, such as Avery labels #8165
  • Paper cutter or rolling cutter
  • Ruler or straightedge
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a folder on your computer desktop, and call it "bookplates." When you find a bookplate you would like to print out, right click on the image and save it to your hard drive in this folder so that you can find it easily.

    • 2

      Open a word processor such as Microsoft Word to a new file. Set your page margins to at least 1/2 inch. Insert the bookplate image you saved. Re-size the image to fit 1/4 of the page. Insert the image three more times, so that you have four copies of the bookplate on one page, arranged in a 2-by-2 grid. Save the file in PDF format if possible. If not, save it as a document file.

    • 3

      Insert the labels into your printer. Print the bookplates.

    • 4

      Cut the four bookplates apart using a paper cutter or a rolling cutter and a ruler to ensure straight cuts. Peel the backing off the printed sheet and position the bookplate inside your book's front cover.

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