Ex-libris (bookplate) - Library of the Royal University of Buda

One peak period of the ex libris genre was the founding of the major libraries of aristocrats and prelates in the 18th century. The high quality engravings were made by well-known graphic artists. The most frequently employed graphic artist of the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries was János Fülöp Binder, who received many commissions as an illustrator from Hungarian publishers he also performed a wide range of sacral graphical works. He created the ex libris of the royal university of Buda in the last third of the 18th century. Copies dated with various years are known of this bookplate from 1780–1782. It can be seen that the last two digits of the year were added later. Binder wanted to exceed the frames of the traditional genre of the ex libris, in his allegoric composition the coat of arms was only one component: the main character is Apollo, with a lyre in his left hand and with objects referring to various branches of science at his feet a globe and books. The bookplates of the 18th century were made with engravings.