Ex Libris and Random Engravings

The exhibition 'Ex Libris and Random Engravings' is dedicated to the engravings that are affixed to the inside of a book's front cover to indicate its owner, known worldwide as ex libris.

The exhibition opens with a brief historical overview (16th–21st centuries), starting with handwritten ex libris and tracing their evolution, particularly in state and municipal libraries: from a simple stamp with the name of the library, institution, or association to the appearance of small printed ex libris pasted onto the endpaper or the first blank page before the title page. These include coats of arms (emblems of aristocratic families), names accompanied by mottos and/or symbolic images.