Actually, no, but I could take credit for being that clever...I just pressed the wrong button on my computer. Sorry about that, but, I did try to find some information for you!
Could you tell me what the eagle has in its talons? Perhaps you have discovered this much already, but if the eagle's talons are empty, the coat-of-arms dates from about 1696-1735, the rule of Vladika Danilo I, the last of the elected Orthodox Bishops to be a Vladika. If the talons have objects in them (an egg perhaps), it is post 1735.
As for the text, it is difficult to say what this is from the short description. If it was written in the roman version of what is now Serbian (or Serbo-Croatian), I would venture a guess that the "vio" is the past tense of a verb, such as zivio - (from ziviti - to live). However, what that verb is, I'm not sure. The south Slavic languages were also not standardized then, and it is possible that this is actually German due to strong alliances with Venice. Again, that would all depend on when the coat-of-arms dates from. I'm guessing there is probably someone on the list serv that is more knowledgeable about the south Slavic languages than I am!
Do you have any images of this coat-of-arms? That may also help in determining just how long the text is and what words it could possibly be.
Virginia Luehrsen
Masters Candidate
Library Science and Folklore
vkluehrs@indiana.edu
(812)679-7828
________________________________
From: Rare book and manuscripts on behalf of Mike Garabedian
Sent: Fri 8/17/2007 4:54 PM
To: EXLIBRIS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
Subject: Re: [EXLIBRIS-L] Coat of Arms identification?
"Hi" to Virginia.
Just kidding -- I guess Virginia was referring to the initials of Nikola I
("HI") that adorn the Montenegro arms post-C19. The coat of arms on this
binding, though, bears no initials, and although it may not be part of the
original binding, the spine is certainly pre-C19.
Anyway, thanks for the input, Virginia. If anyone else can help me to
identify these arms -- and specifically what this motto might be based on
the exposed letters -- please contact me off-list.
Sincerely,
Mike Garabedian
--
Mike Garabedian
Michael Sharpe Rare & Antiquarian Books
569 S. Marengo Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 405-2934
www.sharperarebooks.com
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