The Bookplates and Badges of C.F.A Voysey: Architect and Designer of the Arts and Crafts Movements

This book presents the designs for bookplates and badges by the English Arts and Crafts designer and architect, C.F.A. Voysey, (1857-1941). Perhaps the most recognised and influential designer of his age, Voysey designed over one hundred bookplates, badges and greetings cards. The focus of the book is the collection of these designs from Voysey's own personal archive. Only a very few of these designs have been published to date, and never as a completed collection. Beautiful to look at and full of interesting symbolism, each design encapsulates the spirit and underlying principles which informed every aspect of Voysey's architecture and decorative design. They also form the centrepiece of a beautifully illustrated tale about the life and work of Voysey, touching on his personality, interests, relationship with family and clients, and his central role as designer of the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Karen Livingstone has been on the staff at the Victoria and Albert Museum for fifteen years, as a curator and in her current position of Head of Projects. She was curator of the Museum's major exhibition for 2005, `International Arts and Crafts', which travelled to Indianapolis and San Francisco in 2005-06 and Japan in 2008-09, under the title `Life and Art: From Morris to Mingei'. She is the author of Essential Arts and Crafts (V & A, 2005), coeditor (with Linda Parry) of International Arts and Crafts (V & A, 2005) and a contributor to other publications and journals, including Design and the Decorative Arts, Britain 1500-1900 (V & A, 2001) and The Persistence of Craft (A. & C. Black, 2002).