Ex Libris Bookplate Designed by Rex Whistler Designed Bookplate For Christabel and Henry McLaren 1934
$250
1934
4 1/4" x 3"
The ex libris bookplate designed by Rex Whistler for Henry and Christabel McLaren, later Lord and Lady Aberconway. The image depicts well-stocked library shelves with busts of Christabel and Henry placed on top. An open archway leads to a garden with a fountain. Whistler's choice of motifs reflects the interests of the couple. Christabel had a love of reading, music and writing; Henry was President of Royal Horticultural Society. Just before the Second World War, Whistler provided three illustrations for Christabel's short story The Story of Mr. Korah. The resulting books was published posthumously in 1954.
[Further reading: North Lee, Brian, 'The Bookplate Designs of Rex Whistler', 1973, p. 21, 31, frontispiece; Whistler, Laurence & Ronald Fuller, 'The Work of Rex Whistler', 1960, no. 592]
Rex Whistler. Privately printed. 1932. Collotype book plate, with plate mark to margin, signed and dated in the plate 'Rex Whistler 1932'; large paper printing - 146 x 110 mm. English. 146 x 110mm. 0.1kg
Henry Duncan McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway, CBE (16 April 1879 – 23 May 1953) was a British politician, horticulturalist and industrialist. He was the son of Charles McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway and Laura Pochin.