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SCNY A bookplate for the 21st century

Exhibit

Date
Sep 9 - Sep 30, 2025
Location
Smith Library
Exhibition Hours
Tuesday – Friday | 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Admission

Open to the public
Free to attend

A historic library room with bookshelves, framed portraits, busts, a display table, and a chandelier, featuring antique books and artwork.

This exhibition showcases the beautiful bookplates that took part in our Club library’s 2025 bookplate competition. The original bookplate, designed by George Elmer Browne, is beautiful, elegant, and of its time. However, this year, our library held a competition with the objective of adopting a new bookplate that reflects both the Club’s artistic legacy and its future. The winning bookplate would go ahead to take home $500 and be pasted on books added to the Club library’s collection. In honor of the library and its collective conservation efforts which have been an integral part of our Club for decades, come see the library’s visual identity as envisioned by our artist members.

Vintage illustration of two figures holding a large artist's palette, with "C.N.Y." monogram at the bottom, decorative frame, and text in Spanish, dated 1871 and 1925.

Reception

Sep 18, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Reception is open to the public
RSVP required to attend

Drinks for sale in Wiggins bar
(card only, no cash)

RSVP

A Word from Our Judges

For this year’s competition, 24 splendid bookplates were submitted by 15 talented artists. These works have been beautifully printed on Library stationery and framed for display upon the island bookcases and mantles, allowing library-goers to admire them on-site during this exhibition. Blind jurying was thoughtfully performed by Alexander Katlan (Salmagundian-with-an-eye par excellence), joined by Alexander Lawrence Ames of The Grolier Club, and Mark Samuels Lasner of The Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia.

The judges extend their deepest thanks to the artists for contributing such a distinguished array of bookplates to this competition. Thank you for participating and engaging with the art of ex libris.

Three adults stand in front of bookshelves, each holding a framed print with a bookplate design, smiling at the camera.

Winner :
Anthony Bellov

Black and white illustration of a hand holding a brush, pointing to a framed sign reading "EX LIBRIS," surrounded by ornate borders and text "SALMAGUNDI" and "PORTA INSPIRATIONEM.

This charming submission references the rich heritage of the ex libris art form, and the Latin inscription speaks to the spirit of the club. The design looks to historic tradition while reflecting a lighthearted whimsy that will help create a welcoming atmosphere for readers who pick up a volume in the library and find this bookplate inside.

Certificate of Merit :
Tracy Dockray

Black and white illustration of artists painting on canvases in a studio, with the text "SALMAGUNDI NEW YORK" at the bottom.

This submission pairs classic design with innovative content, with a hint of humor as well. The submission clearly reflects the club’s focus and spirit. It would work well as a bookplate and reflects a familiarity with the ex libris art form.

Certificate of Merit :
Carole Teller

Illustration of the Salmagundi Club entrance with the address 47, two artist silhouettes, paintbrushes, and the text "Salmagundi Club New York Ex Libris.

This beautiful bookplate possesses a highly artistic, painterly quality that captures the spirit of the club, and the judges especially enjoyed the human figures incorporated into the design.

Artworks

Black and white illustration of a hand pointing to a framed "Ex Libris" sign, surrounded by books and ornate borders, with the text "SALMAGUNDI" and "PORTA INSPIRATIONEM.
Anthony Bellov
Salmagundi Club Ex LIbris 2025
Black and white illustration of a hand holding a brush, pointing to a framed sign reading "EX LIBRIS," surrounded by ornate borders and text "SALMAGUNDI" and "PORTA INSPIRATIONEM.
Anthony Bellov
SCNY Ex Libris vs 2
SCNY 1st prize
Illustrated bookplate shows an owl reading a book, with the text "EX LIBRIS" above and "SALMAGUNDI CLUB NYC" below.
Leslie Connito
Imagining the Stew
A painted bookplate with the text "EX LIBRIS" above an owl holding a quill, and "SALMAGUNDI CLUB NYC" written below an open book.
Leslie Connito
Painting the Bird from the Book
Black and white illustration of an ornate doorway with the letters "SCNY" above a banner reading "Ex Libris." Text along the bottom reads "Salmagundi Club · New York.
Robert Coombs
Salmagundi Book Plate Design One
Black and white bookplate with "Ex Libris" text, an arch illustration, "SC NY" inside an open book, and "Salmagundi Club • New York" at the bottom.
Robert Coombs
Salmagundi Book Plate Design Two
Line drawing of a classical building entrance with columns, labeled "Ex Libris," surrounded by text: "Salmagundi New York Since 1871" and "Consortium Ars Continuum.
Tracy Dockray
Camaraderie, Art, Continuing
Black and white illustration of artists painting on canvases in a studio, with the text "SALMAGUNDI NEW YORK" at the bottom.
Tracy Dockray
Hundred Fifty Four and More
SCNY Certificate of merit
Two women stand close together in a library, one whispering to the other. Bookshelves and another woman are visible in the background. One holds a book labeled "The Newsletter.
Leslie L Erdman
Ex Libris SG Pass the Word
A person lies on a bed reading a book, with a patterned blanket and pillows that read "EX LIBRIS SALMAGUNDI CLUB NYC" and a logo on the book cover.
Leslie L Erdman
Ex Libris SG Summer Reading
A person stands between two large redwood trees on a forest path; a painter's palette and brushes are in the foreground; text reads "Ex Libris Salmagundi Club NY.
Carolyn C S Kleinberger
Experience and Aspiration from Roots to the Sky
A bookplate with "EX LIBRIS" at the top, an ornate "SCNY" seal in the center, and "Salmagundi Club New York" written at the bottom.
Joy Makon
Ex Libris
Black and white drawing of two intertwined nude male figures above the logo and text “Ex Libris Salmagundi Club New York” on a white background.
Jean Marcellino
Bookplate #1
Black and white illustration of two muscular, anthropomorphic wolf figures, with one seated and the other reclining; "Ex Libris Salmagundi Club New York" text and logo at bottom right.
Jean Marcellino
Bookplate #2
Black and white emblem for the Salmagundi Club New York featuring two street lamps, art tools, and the text "Ex Libris" and "S NY" in the center.
Valerie Morone
Salmagundi Club Book Plate
Pencil drawing of a woman reading a book, flanked by a child and an owl, with "Ex Libris Salmagundi Club New York" written below. City skyline in background, two silhouetted profiles at bottom.
Maggie O'Keefe
Book plate
Bookplate for Robert Harmer Smith and Herket Lewis Smith Library, featuring coins and Salmagundi Club, New York, with marble background and founding text.
John Michael Pelech
Book Plate Full
Bookplate featuring two medals, the names Robert Harmer Smith and Herket Lewis Smith, and text about the Salmagundi Club Library in New York, established 1871.
John Michael Pelech
Book Plate Small
Black and white illustration of a doorway labeled "EST. 1871," with "SALMAGUNDI CLUB NEW YORK" and "EX LIBRIS" written above and below.
Lori Putnam
Bookplate 1
Black and white illustration of a door labeled "Ex Libris Salmagundi Club New York," with "47" above the door, "NYC" emblem, and "Est. 1871" at the bottom.
Lori Putnam
Bookplate 2
A brown and white bookplate with the text "EX LIBRIS" and "SALMAGUNDI CLUB NEW YORK," featuring a geometric design with the letters S and NY.
Jane Sklar
Book Plate 1
Black and white bookplate with "Ex Libris Salmagundi Club New York" at the top and a sketch of books on two shelves below.
Jane Sklar
Book Plate 2
Black and white illustration of a building entrance on a painter’s palette, with the text “Ex Libris Salmagundi Club New York” and stylized "SC NY" logo.
Emma Rach Syslak
Salmagundi Palette
Black and white illustration of a woman holding a paintbrush and palette, standing beside bookshelves; text reads “Ex Libris Salmagundi Club New York.”.
Emma Rach Syslak
The Painter's Library
Pencil sketch of the Salmagundi Club entrance, with "47" above the door, an artist's palette, brushes, "NY", and the text "SALMAGUNDI CLUB, NEW YORK EX LIBRIS" at the bottom.
Carole Teller
Bookplate 2
Illustration of the Salmagundi Club entrance with the address 47, two artist silhouettes, paintbrushes, and the text "Salmagundi Club New York Ex Libris.
Carole Teller
Bookplate I
SCNY Certificate of merit

Participating Artists

Headshot of Anthony Bellov

Anthony Bellov [RA 2022]

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Leslie Connito [NRA 2020]

Leslie Connito [NRA 2020]

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A bearded man with grey hair looks to the side, wearing a light blue collared shirt. There are blurred plants and string lights in the background.

Robert Patrick Coombs [NRA 2015]

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Tracy Dockray [RP 2020]

Tracy Dockray [RA 2020]

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Leslie Erdman [NRA 2024]

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Carolyn Kleinberger [NRA 2025]

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Joy Makon RA 2023

Joy Makon [RA 2023]

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Jean Marcellino [RA 2021]

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A woman with straight brown hair, glasses, and a turquoise necklace, wearing an orange top, smiling against a gray gradient background.

Valerie Morone [NRA 2025]

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Margaret

Margaret “Maggie” O’Keefe [SCH RA 2019]

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A bald man wearing glasses and a patterned button-up shirt stands indoors and smiles at the camera.

John Michael Pelech [RA 2019]

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a woman with grey hair and blue eyes.

Lori Putnam [NRA 2009]

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Emma Rach-Syslak [SCH NRA 2024]

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Jane Sklar [RA 2020]

Jane Sklar [RA 2020]

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Carole Teller (b.1942)

Carole Teller [EM RA 2003]

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