An excerpt of a review from The Book Buyer: THE book-plate, as it is understood nowadays -- that is, the label, printed or engraved, heraldic or otherwise, intended to proclaim the ownership of a book when affixed to its board or fly-leaf -- made its first appearance, according to Egerton Castle, in Germany. The oldest known ex-libris dates from about 1450, and is that of Johannes Knabensperg, the design, in a rough wood-cut, showing a hedgehog disporting itself with a flower in its mouth among strewn leaves. The oldest ex-libris actually connect with a printed book dates from about 1480, the design, an angel bearing a shield, having the same motive as Thackeray's drawing for the book-plate of his friend the poet and the translator of "Rubaiyat of Omar Khaiyam," Edward Fitzgerald. Durer designed at least book-plates, and exerted a lasting influence in the art. The use of the ex-libris was general among German book collectors before the custom was adopted in other countries.