Supralibros
Supralibros (also super ex-libris: Latin = "above on the book") is a heraldic device (armorial bearings, also portraits) stamped on the front (or rear) cover of a book to indicate ownership. The supralibros has the dual function of decorating a binding and indicating ownership. Commonplace since the 16th century in France, the supralibros was soon imitated by bibliophiles in other countries. It can, in its heraldic form (and bearing other devices) distinguish a book as a particularly valuable exemplar because its provenance is thus revealed.
