Wash your hands and keep them clean throughout the entire handling process.
Mix a solution of 60 percent glue and 40 percent water in your bowl, if your bookplates require glue. Some bookplates have a gummed or adhesive backing.
Use a ruler and pencil to lightly mark where the bookplate will go on the inside front cover of your book. Make sure the spacing is even on either side of the plate.
Place your bookplate face down on a piece of plain, clean scrap paper.
Dip your brush in the glue solution, if you are using the glue solution.
Hold the plate with one finger, and brush the glue from the center of the bookplate outwards. If your bookplate has a gummed back, moisten a sponge with water, and rub the sponge on your bookplate from the center outwards. Be careful not to get the bookplate too wet, or to rub too hard, as this could smear the ink. If your bookplate has an adhesive backing, peel off only half of the backing.
Hold the plate above its placement in the book. Carefully place it in the book and lightly smooth it down. Do not rub over the part with the name, if it is handwritten. For self-adhesive bookplates, rub on the first half of the bookplate, then peel off the rest of the adhesive backing and rub on the second half.
Remove any excess glue by dampening a clean cloth in water, wringing the cloth, and wiping lightly and carefully to clean off the glue. Be careful not to damage the surface of the bookplate.
Leave the book open until the glue is completely dry.