Bookplates are an art genre that began when the first printed books were published in the 16th century.  They were intended as labels to show who owned a book.   At that time, only very wealthy people owned books. This art form went out of fashion when books became cheaper to make and replace.  Now bookplates are of interest to art collectors.
The earliest bookplates resembled family crests and were more about a family identity than an individual identity. But later, bookplates became more about individual identity and reflected the interests, social standing, and personal style of the book’s owner.