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Welcome to the Kenneth Spencer Research Library blog! As the special collections and archives library at the University of Kansas, Spencer is home to remarkable and diverse collections of rare and unique items. Explore the blog to learn about the work we do and the materials we collect.

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The many bookplates of William Stirling Maxwell

In my ten years working with Spencer collections, it’s been impossible not to notice the name William Stirling Maxwell printed on a wide variety of bookplates in our Special Collections. Maxwell was a Scottish art historian, scholar, art collector, and bibliophile, a portion of whose considerable book collection found its way to Spencer’s stacks in years past.

In a flurry of activity one afternoon last fall, I set out to document as many Stirling Maxwell plates as I could find. I located an impressive 35 unique designs in all, and it’s likely there are others out there, in Spencer’s collection and in the many collections around the world across which Stirling Maxwell’s library is dispersed.

To fit this selection of bookplates into this post, I’ve grouped them together into loose categories and adjusted their sizes. The actual plates range greatly in style and in size, from just a few centimeters long to covering the entire pastedown of a folio volume. I’ve grouped these images based on the more prominently featured design elements, although many of the same motifs are repeated across multiple plates, in particular Stirling Maxwell’s heraldic devices, monograms, and personal or family mottos. Some of the plates bear the name William Stirling, while others include Maxwell, which he added after succeeding the Maxwell Baronetcy in 1865.

It’s clear that Stirling Maxwell took pride in his book collection and derived enjoyment from them; in addition to their personalized bookplates, many of the Stirling Maxwell volumes in Spencer are in fine custom bindings bearing his coat of arms and extensive decoration (another blog post for another day!). I hope you will enjoy perusing this selection (A bevy of bookplates! An excess of ex libris!) as much as I did. Remember that these and all of Spencer’s collections can be viewed in person in our reading room!

A selection of six of William Stirling Maxwell's bookplates featuring ornate heraldic imagery.
The bookplates in this group feature very ornate heraldic shields. Call numbers clockwise from upper left: Cervantes Z9; Summerfield B1248; Summerfield D261; Summerfield B1243; Summerfield A300; Summerfield E347. Click image to enlarge.
A selection of five of William Stirling Maxwell's bookplates featuring simplified heraldic imagery.
Heraldic shields again, although the designs in this group are somewhat simpler. Call numbers clockwise from upper left: E283; Summerfield E1006; Summerfield C2034; Cervantes Y31; Summerfield C635. Click image to enlarge.
A selection of three of William Stirling Maxwell's bookplates featuring angels or cherubs in the designs.
Angels and cherubs figure in the designs in this grouping. Call numbers clockwise from left to right: Summerfield C850; A1517; Summerfield D254. Click image to enlarge.
A selection of five of William Stirling Maxwell's bookplates featuring swans in the designs.
These bookplates share the swan, a symbol of nobility, as a notable design feature. Call numbers clockwise from upper left: Summerfield D145; Summerfield B1242; D340; Summerfield D210; Cervantes X36. Click image to enlarge.
A selection of three of William Stirling Maxwell's bookplates featuring knight's helmets in their designs.
The barred, sideways-facing knight’s helmet on these bookplates represents the high rank of Stirling Maxwell’s families. Call numbers from left to right: Call numbers from left to right: C1113; Summerfield A668; Summerfield A601. Click image to enlarge.
A selection of three of William Stirling Maxwell's bookplates featuring his monogram in the designs.
Monograms, from simple to ornate. Call numbers left to right: Cervantes Y4; Summerfield B882 volume 2; C9478. Click image to enlarge.
A selection of four of William Stirling Maxwell's bookplates featuring bold graphic designs.
These bold, graphic images stand out from the florid, fine-lined designs of many of Stirling Maxwell’s other bookplates. Call numbers left to right: Call numbers left to right: Cervantes Y9; Summerfield A533; C1111; Summerfield B915. Click image to enlarge.
A selection of six of William Stirling Maxwell's bookplates, distinctive for their circular shape.
Many of the same motifs are seen in these bookplates, with one big difference – the plates’ circular shape! Call numbers clockwise from upper left: Summerfield C884; Cervantes Y59; Cervantes Y20; Cervantes Y7; Summerfield B863; Cervantes Y18. Click image to enlarge.

Angela Andres, special collections conservator

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 at 7:14 am and is filed under Conservation, Special Collections. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.