Jane Carpenter wrote:
> Can someone help me identify an armorial bookplate, probably from an
> English book collector: 3 foxes (heads and shoulders) on a white shield
> divided by a dark chevron; above the shield is a full figure of a fox,
> below is the motto "Prodesse qu`am conspici." I've looked through
> Fairbairn's Crests of the families of GB and Ireland, but can't find any
> foxes.
>
Hm'm. All the families with this motto (Branches of Chamberlayne, Cocks,
Coxs, Grote, Leigh) have crests other than foxes. And the many Fox, Foxe
etc families have foxes but not that motto.(= "To do good rather than be
conspicuous"). The name Fox(e) must surely be involved somewhere. About
the only anonymous English bookplate for Fox is Franks 11128 to 11133,
[Fox, Baron Holland], but all except Franks 11133 are inscribed "Holland
House".That is the plate of Henry Edward, 4th Baron Holland, and has the
arms of Fox impaling Coventry (1840 on).The earlier ones have arms of
Fox with Vassall on an escutcheon,Henry Richard, 3rd Baron Holland,
married Elizabeth, dau. and heir of Richard Vassall in 1797. Baron
Holland's crest (arms I don't know) has a gold fox sitting on a hat,
Fairburn Plate 57 crest 14 - in the vernacular- but different motto.
Best of luck!
John Barton