Rex Whistler.
Privately Printed. [August 1931]. Engraved book plate, printed in black. Larger size - 13.8 x 9.8 cm. English. 138 x 98mm. 0.1kg. . Near fine; slight toning to rear; this example with the border reduced as is common with the larger sized version of the bookplate.
The ex libris bookplate designed by Rex Whistler for Diana Duff Cooper. Lady Diana Cooper was both a friend and patron of Whistler. The pair moved in a similar social circle. Whistler's bookplate design for Diana is packed with a classical and modern mix of elements including a rococo cartouche, bottles of champagne, scrolls, dispatch boxes, a trailing vine, swags, canopy, and a bust of Diana as the Huntress with bow and arrows. Whistler wrote 'I hope the bust of you isn't too libellous - it looks haughty but I think busts SHOULD look rather haughty don't you'. The plate was engraved by Robert Osmund in 1931 and was printed in two sizes, this example being from the larger size. The 'Diana' part of the name is written in a different and less-clear format than the 'Duff Cooper' meaning that books from Diana's extensive library are often misattributed to her husband Duff.
[Further reading: North Lee, Brian, 'The Bookplate Designs of Rex Whistler', 1973, p. 20, 31; Whistler, Laurence & Ronald Fuller, 'The Work of Rex Whistler', 1960, no. 590]
