The turn of the twentieth century was an extraordinarily difficult period for African Americans, a time of unchecked lynchings, mob attacks, and rampant Jim Crow segregation. During these bleak years, Emma Crawford, a young African American woman living in Pennsylvania, corresponded by postcard with friends and family members and collected the cards she received from all over the country. Her album-spanning from 1906 to 1910 and analyzed in Emma's Postcard Album-becomes an entry point into a deeply textured understanding of the nuances and complexities of African American lives and the survival strategies that enabled people "to make a way from no way." As snippets of lived experience, eye-catching visual images, and reflections of historical moments, the cards in the collection become sources for understanding not only African American life, but also broader American history and culture. In Emma's Postcard Album, Faith Mitchell innovatively places the contents of this postcard collection into specific historic and biographical contexts and provides a new interpretation of postcards as life writings, a much-neglected aspect of scholarship. Through these techniques, a riveting world we know far too little about is revealed, and we gain new insights into the perspectives and experience of African Americans-in their own words. Capping off these contributions, the text is a visual feast, illustrated with arresting images from the Golden Age of postcards as well as newspaper clippings and other archival material.

The notion of retrieving a bit of the past-by owning a material piece of it-has always appealed to humans. Often our most prized possessions are those that have had a long history before they came into our hands. Part of the pleasure we gain from the encounter with antiques stems from the palpable age and the assumed (sometimes imaginary) cultural resonances of the particular object. But precisely what is it about these objects that creates this attraction? What common characteristics do they share and why and how do these traits affect us as they do?

In Antiques: The History of an Idea, Leon Rosenstein, a distinguished philosopher who has also been an antiques dealer for more than twenty years, offers a sweeping and lively account of the origin and development of the antique as both a cultural concept and an aesthetic category. He shows that the appeal of antiques is multifaceted: it concerns their value as commodities, their age and historical and cultural associations, their uniqueness, their sensuous and tactile values, their beauty. Exploring how the idea of antiques evolved over time, Rosenstein chronicles the history of antique collecting and connoisseurship. He describes changing conceptions of the past in different epochs as evidenced by preservations, restorations, and renascences; examines shifting attitudes toward foreign cultures as revealed in stylistic borrowings and the importation of artifacts; and investigates varying understandings of and meanings assigned to their traits and functions as historical objects.

While relying on the past for his evidence, Rosenstein approaches antiques from an entirely original perspective, setting history within a philosophical framework. He begins by providing a working definition of antiques that distinguishes them from other artifacts in general and, more distinctly, both from works of fine art and from the collectible detritus of popular culture. He then establishes a novel set of criteria for determining when an artifact is an antique: ten traits that an object must possess in order to elicit the aesthetic response that is unique to antiques. Concluding with a provocative discussion of the relation between antiques and civilization, this engaging and thought-provoking book helps explain the enduring appeal of owning a piece of the past.

Paul Newman wore his Daytona Rolex every single day for 35 years until his death in 2008. The iconic timepiece, probably the single most sought-after watch in the world, is now in the possession of his daughter Clea, who wears it every day in his memory. Franklin Roosevelt wore an elegant gold Tiffany watch, gifted to him by a friend on his birthday, to the famous Yalta Conference where he shook the hands of Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. JFK's Omega worn to his presidential inauguration, Ralph Lauren's watch purchased from Andy Warhol's personal collection, Sir Edmund Hillary's Rolex worn during the first-ever summit of Mt. Everest...these and many more compose the stories of the world's most coveted watches captured in A Man and His Watch. Matthew Hranek, a watch collector and NYC men's style fixture, has travelled the world conducting firsthand interviews and diving into exclusive collections to gather the never-before- told stories of 76 watches, complete with stunning original photography of every single piece.

Literary archives differ from most other types of archival papers in that their locations are more diverse and difficult to predict. Acquiring institutions for literary papers have historically had very little by way of collecting policies and consequently the collecting of literary papers has often been opportunistic and serendipitous. The essays collected in this book all derive or continue from the recent work of the Diasporic Literary Archives Network, which takes a comparative, transnational and internationalist approach to studying literary manuscripts, their uses and their significance. The focus on diaspora provides a philosophical framework which gives a highly original set of points of reference for the study of literary archives, including concepts such as the natural home, the appropriate location, exile, dissidence, fugitive existence, cultural hegemony, patrimony, heritage, and economic migration.

Jewellery in Context is the doctoral dissertation, edited by Theo Smeets in its first English translation, by the Dutch art historian and design critic Marjan Unger (1946-2018). In this work she initially endeavours to formulate a general definition of jewellery. Yet above all she also analyses to what extent jewellery is associated, across the globe, with different, sometimes contrary issues: all human fears, but also desires, have, in a sense, materialised as objects of adornment, she postulates. This comprehensive approach aimed not least at developing a solid theoretical framework to aid the study of jewellery. Thus the text can already be seen as an outright standard reference work, indispensable for all students of jewellery. However, experts, too, will discover new perspectives on the phenomenon of jewellery. Contents: Foreword - Theorems; 1. Introduction; 2. Definitions and classifications; 3. Art history as foundation for the study of jewellery; 4. Man as measure; 5. Angles from other disciplines; 6. Symbolism in jewellery; 7. Evaluation; 8. Conclusion.

Shaker Fancy Goods tells the story of the Shaker Sisters of the nineteenth and early twentieth century who responded to the economic perils of the Industrial Revolution by inventing a lucrative industry of their own-Fancy Goods, a Victorian term for small adorned household objects made by women for women. Thanks to their work ethic, business savvy, and creativity, the tireless Shaker Sisters turned a seemingly modest trade into the economic engine that sustained their communal way of life, just as the men were abandoning the sect for worldly employment. Relying on journals and church family records that give voice to the plainspoken accounts of the sisters themselves, the book traces the work they did to establish their principal revenue streams, from designing the products, to producing them by hand (and later by machine, when they could do so without compromising quality) to bringing their handcrafts to market. Photographs, painstakingly gathered over years of research from museums and private collections, present the best examples of these fancy goods. Fancy goods include the most modest and domestic of items, like the pen wipes that the Sisters shaped into objects such as dolls, mittens, and flowers; or the emeries, pincushions, and needle books lovingly made back in an era when more than a minimal competency in sewing was expected in women; to more substantial purchases like the Dorothy cloaks that were in demand among fashionable women of the world; or the heavy rib-knitted sweaters, cardigans, and pullovers that became popular items among college boys and adventurous women.

This definitive reference for beachcombers is also a beautiful addition to any coffee table. Pure Sea Glass surveys the history of glass manufacturing, explains the weathering process that creates frosted gems from fragile shards of old glass and tableware, and offers tips on how and where to find the best pieces. More than 200 exquisite photographs bring to light the luminous beauty of authentic sea glass. Winner, 1st place for nonfiction, Writer's Digest International Self Published Books Award.

Ecoinomics is designed to equip the reader with a full working knowledge of the global numismatic market and how it differs from country to country; it details the various factors which contribute to the value of a coin, as well as different collecting practices (such as third-party grading in the US). Covering the range of costs and benefits involved with keeping a substantial amount of capital in coins, including performance over time, market trends, tax and insurance, Ecoinomics aims to give the reader the confidence to buy coins and to begin participating in the numismatic market. "Robert Parkinson has written an interesting and informative guide that explains many of the most important topics in numismatics. This book will serve as a valuable resource for new and experienced collectors alike." Max Spiegel, President, Certified Collectibles Group / NGC

The extraordinary jewelry creations by the famous Maison from its beginnings to the present day.

This book presents the legendary jewelry and precious objects of Van Cleef & Arpels, and how they relate to time, nature and love. Time is a fundamental element for both creativity and craftsmanship. Time gives objects their shape; defines their style; determines their function, social utility, and the choice of materials and techniques; indicates origin; hones taste; and reveals context. Time is interpreted through eight values inspired by Italo Calvino’s Lezioni Americane, or Six Memos for the Next Millennium, to honor the iconic pieces created by Van Cleef & Arpels over the years, from Art Deco masterpieces to the illustrious Zip necklace, gravity-defying Mystery Set, or celebrated Minaudières―some of the most important innovations in the history of 20th century jewelry-making.

Nature plays an equally important role for Van Cleef & Arpels as an ever-present source of inspiration and tribute, embodied in unique gems and timeless masterpieces drawing on flora and fauna. Van Cleef & Arpels is founded on love, the most powerful energy in the world. Each object is handcrafted with love, and Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry has sealed some of the century’s most legendary love stories.

In a brilliant historical and critical essay, illuminated by a stunning iconographic selection of jewelry, precious objects and archive materials, this work describes the Maison’s eternal values of time, nature and love.

This volume, edited by Alberto Fiz, explores private collecting through a rich selection of over 150 works from 18 of Italy's most important contemporary art collections. Paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs and videos show the figure of the collector not merely as a simple purchaser of works, but as the creator of a world, a project that grows in line with his or her personal sensitivity. In opening their doors to these private collections, the third millennium's patrons take on a leading role in today's cultural landscape, offering a unique opportunity to promote otherwise unknown masterpieces. Ranging from Piero Manzoni to Tomas Saraceno, from Marina Abramovic to Maurizio Cattelan, this volume provides a collective picture, a 'collection of collections', linked with our modern-day passions and tastes.

Bourgeois scholarship as disguise: “Fake books” are objects that simulate the most important carriers of knowledge and culture by subverting fundamental functions such as visualization, information or entertainment. Most of these “book simulators” are beautiful containers, which serve for storing – or hiding – approximately everything. The viewer is always confronted by the discrepancy between appearance and being, between form and function.

Armin Müller has collected book dummies of very different sizes, styles and provenances from different eras: art-historically valuable, technically sophisticated and historically exciting pieces, but also kitsch of all kinds. The imaginative and creative richness of camou-flage and illusion seems to be inexhaustible.

Spode Transfer Printed Ware has been extensively enlarged and revised since it was first published in 1983. With over 100 newly discovered prints, the volume now illustrates every known transfer print issued by the Spode family at their works in Stoke-on-Trent. The book's 1000 illustrations allow the reader to understand the great variety of shapes produced by Spode, as well as the imprints that they marked their decorated wares with. Crucially, the volume also outlines the difference between methods of manufacture used in the past and those practiced today, with detailed texts discussing early ceramic printing techniques such as bat printing and pluck and dust printing.

The Model Shop was a special department at the Stanley Rule & Level Company where all new products and custom and special rule prototypes were created and tested for evaluation by management and customers. The Stanley Company has produced hundreds of these out-of-the-mainstream products which have now become sought-after collectibles. Authors Phil Stanley and Scott Lynk have collaborated to document in this new book the nonstandard rules made by Stanley as they explored market needs and responded to customers' inquiries, orders, and modifications. Included are the rules made by Stanley in the 1876-86 movement to convert to the metric system and both the custom and special rules and the stock rules currently in the inventory of the Stanley Model Shop.

Records Renaudo's formidable production with detailed information for the collector.

The Willett Collection is unique. It is the only collection formed to illustrate what 19th century businessman Henry Willett called 'popular British history'. The collection of nearly 2,000 items is arranged here in chapters corresponding to Willett's own cataloguing system. Many of the groupings commemorate historical events and personalities, such as 'Royalty and Loyalty', its content running from the Tudors through to Queen Victoria, and 'Statesmen', with its ceramic representations of Disraeli and Gladstone. Other chapters focus on social history, from the grisly murder in the Red Barn to bull baiting, pugilism, animal husbandry and teetotalism. Stella Beddoe's engaging, informative text places each item in context, exploring the maker and the subject matter depicted. The introduction on Henry Willett the man reveals the life that spawned such a diverse, irreplaceable collection of ceramics. The items, depicted in more than 800 colour illustrations, comprise hollow ware and flat ware, ornamental busts and figures, dating from the late sixteenth to the late nineteenth centuries. They represent a complete range of ceramic bodies and manufacturing technology.

Despite a long history of involvement in the design and production of firearms, the Birmingham firm of Webley & Scott is probably better known to the general public for its manufacture of airguns than for any other product. Until now, there has been no published reference that concentrates exclusively on the history and development of Webley air pistols. This book has been prepared to offer a comprehensive guide for all those interested in the subject and who appreciate the traditional British craftsmanship entailed. It embraces all models based upon the same initial patent, which were produced between the years 1924 and 1999, commencing with the original Mark 1 and progressing through twelve other models to the final Webley Tempest introduced more than half a century later. In addition to the pistols themselves, there are sections of the book relating to pellet styles and various shooting accessories produced by the same company. The whole work is divided into 22 sections, the text being accompanied throughout with 226 original photographs and over 70 line illustrations, each of which has been prepared by the author.

The desire to travel into space is as old as mankind itself. But it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that the idea became anything more than fiction. Although hot air balloons large enough to carry a person lifted off the ground in the late 1700s, it was the invention of powered flight-the airplane-that gave man hope of controlling his ascent into the skies and beyond. Once man was headed up, he could never again be satisfied being tied down to the earth's surface. The space age gave man hopes and dreams of a future in the exploration of the universe. These dreams were translated into souvenirs, toys, games, entertainment, and every-day items with the space theme. They are the artifacts of the space age. Collecting the Space Race explores these artifacts, beginning with the start of the 20th century. Included are first man on the moon items, the original Mercury astronaut items, Sputniks and satellites, fantasy items (Buck Rogers, Captain Video, Flash Gordon, Star Trek, etc.), UFOs, Ray Guns, space-theme postage stamps, mission patches, autographs, and space toys and robots. This book will inspire and answer some of the questions about the items that have been saved or collected as it exposes a broad field of things to collect.

This catalogue describes 24 manuscripts from the collection of Thomas Ryburn Buchanan presented to the Bodleian Library in 1939 and 1941, including illuminated manuscripts from before the mid-sixteenth century. The collection consists primarily of late medieval devotional books from France, the Netherlands and renaissance Italy. It includes "Books of Hours", half of which are French and date from the fifteenth or early sixteenth century, a Bridgettine Breviary, a Milanese Breviary, a ferial Psalter, a Psalter of c 1300 and three Italian humanistic texts. A notable feature of the collection is the number of manuscripts with early and fine bindings. The illustrated catalogue gives detailed descriptions of the manuscripts - their texts, illumination, and codicological characteristics (including bindings).

Like other volumes in this series, Ancient History from Coins demystifies a specialism, introducing students (from first year upwards) to the techniques, methods, problems and advantages of using coins to do ancient history.
Coins are a fertile source of information for the ancient historian; yet too often historians are uneasy about using them as evidence because of the special problems attaching to their interpretation. The world of numismatics is not always easy for the non-specialist to penetrate or understand with confidence. Dr Howgego describes and anlyses the main contributions the study of coins can make to ancient history, showing shows through numerous examples how the character, patterns and behaviour of coinage bear on major historical themes. Topics range from state finance and economic policy to imperial domination and political propaganda through coins types.
The period covered by the book is from the invention of coinage (ca 600BC) to AD 400.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203135865

The debasement of coinage, particularly of silver, was a common feature of pre-modern monetary systems. Most coinages were issued by state authorities and the condition of a coinage is often seen (rightly or wrongly) as an indicator of the broader fiscal health of the state that produced it. While in some cases the motives behind the debasements or reductions in standards are clear, in many cases the intentions of the issuing authorities are uncertain. Various explanations have been advanced: fiscal motives (such as a desire to profit or a to cover a deficit caused by the failure to balance expenditure and revenues); monetary motives (such as changing demand for coined money or a desire to maintain monetary stability in the face of changing values of raw materials or labour costs); pressure from groups within society that would profit from debasement; misconduct at the mint; or the decline of existing monetary standards due to circulation and wear of the coinage in circulation. Certain explanations have tended to gain favour with monetary historians of specific periods, partly reflecting the compartmentalization of scholarship. Thus the study of Roman debasements emphasizes fiscal deficits, whereas medievalists are often more prepared to consider monetary factors as contributing to debasements. To some extent these different approaches are a reflection of discrepancies in the amount of documentary evidence available for the respective periods, but the divide also underlines fundamentally different approaches to the function of coinage: Romanists have preferred to see coins as a medium for state payments; whereas medievalists have often emphasized exchange as an important function of currency. The volume is inter-disciplinary in scope. Apart from bringing together monetary historians of different periods, it also contains contributions from archaeometallurgists who have experience with the chemical and physical composition of coins and technical aspects of production of base alloys.

More than 500 color photos display marbles of all types in this informative, highly popular, revised guide. Most of these photos, over 400, are new to this edition and the text is entirely rewritten. Covered in this reliable guide that has stood the test of time are handmade and machine-made marbles of all types, including Indians, Aggies, Steelies, transitionals, M.F. Christensen & Son, Akro Agate, and more...every major category of marble is presented. Included among the handmade marbles are old marbles of glass, earthenware, minerals, and steel; machine-made marbles are identified by their manufacturers; and contemporary handmade glass marbles by artisans recapturing the old styles and creating exciting new styles all their own. Today's marble pricing is explained in detail. The author describes the four factors to look for when determining the value of a marble, and presents an accurate guide to the modern market. This book is a reliable source book for anyone with an interest in marbles.