Book rhyme
Encyclopedia
A book rhyme is a short poem or rhyme
that was formerly printed inside the front of a book or on the flyleaf to discourage theft
or to indicate ownership.
Book rhymes were fairly common in the United States
during the 18th and 19th centuries, but the printing of bookplate
s pushed them out of use.
The end line has several variations,
The title of Alfred Bester
's novel The Stars My Destination
plays on the final line.
Rhyme
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words and is most often used in poetry and songs. The word "rhyme" may also refer to a short poem, such as a rhyming couplet or other brief rhyming poem such as nursery rhymes.-Etymology:...
that was formerly printed inside the front of a book or on the flyleaf to discourage theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
or to indicate ownership.
Book rhymes were fairly common in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the 18th and 19th centuries, but the printing of bookplate
Bookplate
A bookplate, also known as ex-librīs [Latin, "from the books of..."], is usually a small print or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the inside front cover, to indicate its owner...
s pushed them out of use.
Anti-theft warnings
One of the most common is :- If this book you steal away,
- What will you say
- On Judgment Day?
Identification rhyme
- Everytown is my dwelling-place
- America is my nation
- John Smith is my name
The end line has several variations,
- And Christ is my salvation
- And heaven my expectation
The title of Alfred Bester
Alfred Bester
Alfred Bester was an American science fiction author, TV and radio scriptwriter, magazine editor and scripter for comic strips and comic books...
's novel The Stars My Destination
The Stars My Destination
The Stars My Destination is a science fiction novel by Alfred Bester. Originally serialized in Galaxy magazine in four parts beginning with the October 1956 issue, it first appeared in book form in the United Kingdom as Tiger! Tiger! – after William Blake's poem "The Tyger", the first verse...
plays on the final line.
Sources
- Funk & Wagnall's Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology & Legend (Hardcover), 1972, pp156–157 ISBN 0-308-40090-9