Masterpieces of Furniture, In Photographs and Measured Drawings, Verna Cook Salomonsky, Dover Publications, 1953. This is a book with 100 photographs and over 500 detailed drawings of the some of the great ollectible furniture designs from the 18th and 19th Centuries. I like it because it provides insight into what makes classic design classic in a way that you can get either by making the stuff yourself or studying the design and detail given in the book.

The New Fine Points of Furniture - Early American: Good, Best, Better by Albert Sack, John Meredith Graham, Israel Sack. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., October 2007. A definitive visual aid useful for helping the beginning collector understand the concept behind the professional evaluation process. The more than 650 photos show the actual pieces of furniture under consideration, side by side on the pages, arranged by period and form. This format makes it possible to discern differences between items, and in concert with the excellent accompanying text, grasp the reasons why one piece is considered a good piece and one is a masterpiece. A useful study guide for the experienced professional who desires to further hone their eye in relation to early American furniture characteristics and aesthetics. Ruby Lane Staff. CS.

Early American Furniture - A Practical Guide for Collectors by John Obbard. Collector Books, September 1999. A primer on collecting and a field guide useful for on-the-spot evaluation of early American furniture pieces. Provides essential background information that is often overlooked by other books on antique furniture. Written by a scholarly collector, rather than someone involved in the trade. Covers such topics as: Antiques as an Investment. Understanding Period and Style, Identifying Period Workmanship, Care and Conservation, Documentation and Insurance.

Also, seventeen chapters illustrate types and forms of early furniture that the collector is likely to encounter in the marketplace, explaining how best to evaluate each as to authenticity, quality and value. An extraordinarily useful book jammed with esoteric minutia about hardware, joinery, wood identification, and so much more.  On my list of all-time favorite books for clarity of presentation of useful facts both large and small. Ruby Lane Staff. CS.

Do you have a favorite resource book you would like to recommend for The Library collection? If so, please send an email to blogservices@rubylane.com and include the book title, authors name, publisher, publication date, your name, your site url (if applicable) and a brief statement describing why you like the book .

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