The MUNRO’s BOOKMARK
Long identified with Canada’s largest independent
book store (Munro’s of Victoria), the original of the famous MUNRO’s bookmark
has finally been discovered – in small village in England!
Munro’s
is the largest independent book store in Canada, and has just celebrated
its 40th anniversary. A big feature of the celebration was its famous bookmark
- the iconic "Munro's bookmark". This bookmark has been in use for
over 30 years and has become identified with Munro’s - people ask for
it! The bookmark has gone through many, many printings since 1970, and has
appeared with various colors, and with various addresses as Munro's moved and
extended, but the image has always been the same - the romantic, Art Nouveau
"Munro's bookmark".
The original work of art, done with ink on card had been lost for 30
years. It was a treasure sought by the artist and friends, but regarded,
after much searching, to be lost in the mists of time, and moves, and other
priorities. The only trace was a 1970 photograph of the young artist (Martin
Springett) in mid-pen stroke actually creating the bookmark. This photograph
now hangs in a place of honor in Munro’s fantastic downtown Victoria store, and
was the only link to the lost original. Now, suprisingly, in a small village in
Dorset, thousands of miles away from Victoria, the original work of art has
turned up. It was a real thrill for Martin to suddenly and unexpectedly be
re-united with a long given up prize.
The original bookmark is ink on white card and measures about 24 inches by 8
inches. It's now been framed and will be up for auction in Victoria at
Lund’s in their December 2003 fine arts auction.
The original work of art was
created by a starving artist (literally), and the bookmark rights were sold to
Munro's for a flat fee of $25. Three other bookmarks were sold at the same time
but didn't catch on like this one.
The bookmark is featured on the website http://www.miragebookmark.ch - a site
dedicated to the world’s most famous bookmarks
Martin Springett has gone on
to become a well know illustrator and artist, and has illustrated many
children’s books, as well as numerous book covers, including the original
illustrations for Guy Gavrial Kay's Fianovar Trilogy. Martin now lives in
Toronto and has been nominated for the Governer General’s Award for
Illustration and has recently won the coveted Ruth Schwartz award for
children's illustration.
Interesting to note that the original illustration for the first Harry Potter book cover
has just sold at auction for 450,000 sterling – well known originals always
generate great interest simply because they’re unique. There’s only one
original Munro’s bookmark!