Fancy Update: Not Just for Ladies!

This bookplate, or “ex libris”, was found in “The Lady’s Manual of Fancy Work”, and indicates that the book came from the library of Bishop Tuttle

Those of you who follow “I Browse” know that the blog showcases rare, quirky, or otherwise awesome books from the collection of the St. Louis Public Library.

 

For example, the last post featured a beautiful mid-19th century book called “Fancy Work”.

 

Since that post, one of our talented librarians noticed that the book’s bookplate (a stamp on the inside of the front cover) indicates that the book came from the library of Bishop Tuttle.

 

Pretty awesome.

 

Bishop Tuttle (1837-1923) is best known for his missionary work in Salt Lake City (he was a contemporary of Brigham Young), but he also served as the third Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.

 

During his appointment as the Bishop of Missouri, Tuttle consecrated Christ Church as the cathedral for the Diocese of Missouri.  He even laid the  cornerstone for the cathedral’s tower in 1910.

 

…and the church is right accross the street from our Central Library!

 

While the book’s provenance does not prove that Bishop Tuttle practiced the art of fancy work, I am still very optimistic that we will find an original Tuttle doily tucked in the pages of one of these books.  Hey, it could happen 🙂 If it does, you can be sure to see it here.

 

Other books at the St. Louis Public Library from Bishop Tuttle:

 

Reminiscences of a Missionary Bishop, by Daniel Sylvester Tuttle, 1906

 

The sermon delivered before the General Convention in the Church of the Epiphany, Wash., on the 5th of Oct., 1898, by Daniel Sylvester Tuttle, 1898