Ex Libris is a Latin phrase that translates as “from the books”. Also known as bookplates, Ex Libris were first used in Germany in the 15th Century. These designs are pasted into a book’s inside cover or endpaper as a sign of ownership.
The first books were highly valuable and prestigious objects, and often the Ex Libris show a motif relating to the book’s wealthy owner, such as a coat-of-arms, crest, family motto or a commissioned artwork by leading artists of their generation, such as Albrecht Duerer, Lucas Cranac and Edward Burne-Jones. More recent illustrations are by the likes of Aubrey Beardsley, Eric Gill and Félicien Rops.
As book ownership became more affordable, more of us began to use these identifiers and erotic pictures of nudes, genitals and sex became prevalent.

By Balozsfy, Rezsö
Germany’s Frederikshavn Kunstmuseum has a terrific collection of erotic Ex Libris, in which many of these designs appear. You can red more about them in Ex-Libris: The Art of Bookplates by Martin J. Hopkinson.

By Leonis Szemere (1911)

Erotic Ex Libris By Antonín Burka

By Jerzy Druzrycki

By Patricia Nik-Dad

Erotic Ex Libris by Miro Parizek

By Franco Brunello

By Antoni Gelabert

By Valentin Le Campion

By Walter Helfenbein

By Herbert S. Ott (1949)

By Franco Braello

By Franco Brunello

By Blæsbjerg Christian

By Félicien Rops
Lead Image: Erotic Ex Libris Illustration By Walter Helfenbein
Would you like to support Flashbak?
Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.