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Author Topic:   The SSF Library Project needs your help!!
IJP

Posts: 326
Registered: Oct 2004

iconnumber posted 02-08-2006 09:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for IJP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hello, everyone:

The SSF Library Project is working to renovate and expand the current Silver Library bibliography found here.

As part of this project, we would like to put together a list of books that are ideal for the beginner who is just breaking into the field of silver. We would be glad to have your suggestions for those books which were most valuable to you in your early studies or explorations, those books which you would most strongly recommend to "newbies".

We will also likely create similar lists for various more specific categories, and we will probably ask for input on those as well. For now, however, I believe our goal is to prepare a Top-Ten list of books for beginners, so fire away!

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 02-09-2006 05:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A few affordable starters:
  • Rainwater, Dorothy Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers West Chester, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1986
  • Rainwater, Dorothy. American Jewelry Manufacturers West Chester, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1988.
  • Rainwater, Dorothy T. and H. Ivan American Silver Plate West Chester, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1988
  • Tardy International Hallmarks on Silver
  • Tardy Poincons D'Or: De Platine et de Palladium (International Hallmarks on Gold and Platinum)
  • Hagan, Tere Silverplated Flatware Paducah, Kentucky: Collector Books, 1990
  • Hagan, Tere Sterling Flatware Tempe Arizona: TAMM Publishing Co., 1994

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t-man-nc

Posts: 327
Registered: Mar 2000

iconnumber posted 02-09-2006 06:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for t-man-nc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Book of Old Silver - Wyler

This is a good first book because it has representations of silver and marks from The UK, US and Europe easly obtainable and inexpencive

The Antique Hunter's Guide - American Silver and Pewter by Don Fenimore, Well organized / catagorized, great pictures, excellent information and reasonable cost

"Smaug"

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ozfred

Posts: 87
Registered: Sep 2002

iconnumber posted 02-09-2006 09:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ozfred     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is the intention to catalogue the books into categories?
Possible sections could be -
General history,
Flatware,
Holloware,
Toys etc.

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agleopar

Posts: 850
Registered: Jun 2004

iconnumber posted 02-10-2006 08:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for agleopar     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Would a list of how to make silverware be of intrest?

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jprice33

Posts: 204
Registered: Sep 2000

iconnumber posted 02-10-2006 09:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for jprice33     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Jackson's Hallmarks..edited by Ian Pickford

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Clive E Taylor

Posts: 450
Registered: Jul 2000

iconnumber posted 02-10-2006 02:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Clive E Taylor     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Silver Library Bibliography is probably the best and most comprehensive list I've seen.
Bit I would endores jprice33's recommendation of the Ian Pickford JACKSON,(ISBN 0- 907462 63 4) which for all its faults is still the master work on English silver if used with Griwade.
Other key works on English silver not included are
Gill M.A.V. - A Directory of Newcastle Goldsmiths 1980 (goldsmiths includes silversmiths in British practice )
The Compendium of CHESTER GOLD & SILVER MARKS 1570 -1962 Ridgeway and Priestley ISBN 1 85149447 2 Published 2004 and still in print. The last word on the subject, although I and Philip Priestly have had a query on one buckle mark !)

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FWG

Posts: 845
Registered: Aug 2005

iconnumber posted 02-10-2006 03:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FWG     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The people working on the library project intend to develop a series of lists on different topics, so that someone looking for books on, say, English and Irish silver can have a ready reference to recommended works (don't worry, this is not to replace the current resource, but to supplement it). We'll be soliciting other such lists in coming weeks.

For this particular project, the idea was to list books specifically recommended for beginners. Ideally these would be either in-print (and preferably not too expensive) or so widely available in libraries as to be easy to find for most anyone. Personally I think that a good survey of silver-working techniques, if such exists, would be a fine addition to this list. Many of the suggested books here are certainly appropriate, but I think some may be more specialized than a beginner needs, and may warrant moving to one of the specific subject lists.

But we need to know what others think -- does a book on American coin silver belong on a beginners' list? Or on a particular maker, even Tiffany or Gorham? Wyler, for all its faults, because of its international sections and widespread availability, or Jackson, for its presumed improvements over Wyler? (I started with Wyler, 'graduated' to Jackson -- a pattern I suspect is common; my gut feeling is Wyler belongs on a beginner list, Jackson on a British list, but that may be just me)

Ths is related to the earlier thread from the General Silver Forum
first books for silver neophyte, which we will also draw upon.

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outwest

Posts: 390
Registered: Nov 2005

iconnumber posted 02-10-2006 05:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for outwest     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Beginner here:
I just ordered Rainwater on line. It seemed reasonable. There was a deal where they threw in,
"American Silversmiths - 1948 edition"
by Stephen Ensko.
Then they gave you free shipping. So, I got that since it was basically free.

I would like a book that reviews all the styles through the ages in America including engraving styles. I really like coin silver. My library had a couple books, but they were heavy on European silver with just a few American examples with hardly anything of coin. I like lots of pictures.

That Book of Old Silver bty Wylie looks interesting. Maybe something for next month.

Is there a book you would recommend to do that?

I know some of you have said most people aren't interested in the styles of things, but for some reason I think it's really interesting.

And thanks for trying to get a list together! I'm looking forward to recommendations for American coin silver.

[This message has been edited by outwest (edited 02-10-2006).]

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IJP

Posts: 326
Registered: Oct 2004

iconnumber posted 02-10-2006 10:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for IJP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
These are all great suggestions.

As FWG has explained, this initial list is to identify the best books for the beginner, as a general introduction to silver. I apologize if I did not clear that up quite enough.

I like Wyler as a top pick, because it is a broad-ranging work. Although it does have its shortcomings, I think it makes an excellent introductory reference.

I am in support of including Tardy's International Hallmarks on Silver. While it had been suggested that there may be created a separate subcategory for "World silver and markings", I'm not sure that the body of work would warrant its own category (Though certainly subcategories would be created for individual countries which have produced much silver, and about which much has been written). In any event I feel that Tardy makes a great preliminary survey of the subject.

Both agleopar and FWG have mentioned the possible inclusion of a book on silver-working techniques. The one that comes immediately to mind is Silversmithing by Feingold and Seitz, though to me that particular volume seems a little "textbookish" and more appropriate to the actual student of silversmithing than to the beginning explorer of silverwork. I'm sure there is a more proper book which outlines and describes the techniques encountered in silverwork.

Of the dozen or so books so far mentioned, at least six are exclusively about American silver, and much of the rest is about English silver. I wonder if we should be wary of creating a bias in this first general list. Wyler is a great suggestion because it treats American, English, and European examples, and the Tardy books are about as inclusive as possible.

I would not object to adding Rainwater's Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers to this beginner's list. Nor, I think, would it be inappropriate to include a single American flatware pattern identification guide. My vote is for Hagan or Turner.

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FWG

Posts: 845
Registered: Aug 2005

iconnumber posted 02-11-2006 10:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for FWG     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here are some offerings for consideration. Each, I think, makes a decent, wide-ranging introduction. The main problem is that all are out of print, although most of them are not hard to find used, and most at very reasonable prices. I own all of them, and I do still turn to each at least occasionally with some question.


  • Margaret Holland, Silver: An Illustrated Guide to Collecting Silver, 1973, 1983, published with slight title variations. Mostly English and American, but with a nice range of dates and styles.
  • Jessie McNab, Silver (from The Smithsonian Illustrated Library of Antiques), 1981. Less inclusion of flatware than Holland, but adds a short section on antiquity. A bit more international in scope.
  • Stephen Helliwell, Collecting Small Silverware, (published for Christies), 1988. Well illustrated, includes flatware and a wide range of silver smalls, mostly American and British.
  • C. Bernard Hughes, Small Antique Silverware, 1957. Mostly British, and with a larger definition of 'small' than Helliwell, this includes some holloware pieces; but the descriptions of the uses of different forms and their periods is rather good.
  • Jewelry, Ancient to Modern, prepared by/for The Walters Art Gallery, 1979/80. A decent survey from the ancient world to the early 20th century, well illustrated, but weighted more to the earlier stuff -- which is less likely to be collected by beginners, but nonetheless good to know about.

Warman's jewelry (I think in its 3rd edition now, although I only have 1 and 2) is also a very good introduction to the subject, with each chapter opened by a good, if short, text. The main focus is on identification and values -- so I'm not sure I'd want to recommend it on a list like this, although it may be just what people are looking for as beginners -- but the information is good.

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FWG

Posts: 845
Registered: Aug 2005

iconnumber posted 02-11-2006 10:38 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for FWG     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
On a separate consideration, perhaps it is appropriate for a general, beginners list that will be used predominantly by English-speakers to emphasize American and British silver (although I consider Tardy an essential entry on the list). I hate to reinforce Anglo hegemony in any way, and I'm fully in sympathy with those whose interests are in other parts of the world, but pragmatically, that's what most of the English-language books do, and probably what most of the SSF visitors are looking for. Then our subject lists can expand those horizons....

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sazikov2000

Posts: 254
Registered: Jan 2005

iconnumber posted 02-11-2006 12:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for sazikov2000     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A heretical question:

For whom is this "Library Project"? The majority of the posts is on silverplate or stolen Hotel silver.

Sazikov 2000

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Dale

Posts: 2132
Registered: Nov 2002

iconnumber posted 02-11-2006 01:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My thought is that the best general introduction to silver is still Turner. Which is out of print. Does anyone know who owns the rights to it? Perhaps we could urge one of the antique publishing houses to reissue it. Turner for all his problems covered the world of silver in the later 19th century very well.

On silverplate, Davis and Diebel produced the better flatware guide. The second edition is particularly good, but also out of print. Hagan is OK but lacks the depth and breadth D & D brought to the subject.

Edmund Hogan, historian of IS, wrote a couple of company histories back in the 60's and 70's. These books were lavishly illustrated but sort of short on text. Ed told me that when he started at IS (in 1918) he would glom onto things being thrown out of the files. Apparently in the early 1920's IS tossed most of their records from before WW1. He packratted them away. In the late 1960's, Ed began to photocopy brochures and catalog pages of various IS patterns and sell them to collectors. These were state of the art 1965 photocopy; not very good. But they were complete descriptions of various patterns. He had assembled them from the long runs of production and could document changes and innovations.

Other than these, Rainwater is good on silverplate. Catalog reprints are an excellent guide to production. They appear erratically from the anatique trade houses. Theses are an excellent guide to style and breadth of design. I would particularly reccomend the reprint of the 1886 Meriden Brittania Company catalog.

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IJP

Posts: 326
Registered: Oct 2004

iconnumber posted 02-11-2006 07:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for IJP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I did not have the fortune, in my early explorations of the topic, of reading any of the excellent-sounding books that FWG has mentioned.

However, two books that I did read when I first began to study silver, were Osterberg's Silver Holloware for Dining Elegance and Sterling Silver Flatware for Dining Elegance. I realize today that these are not the most erudite of books, and much of what is written in them is now common knowledge to me, but they were helpful introductions to me at one time. I also recall that the Holloware volume, if not also the Flatware, did provide rudimentarily informative information on prevalent styles in American silver.

So, outwest, there you go. I'm sure there are many more books that treat numerous styles "through the ages" as well.

Unfortunately, I think that engraving styles would be more likely treated in a book treating that subject specifically. I know that my engraver friends have such books.

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Tad Hale

Posts: 120
Registered: Jul 2005

iconnumber posted 02-13-2006 04:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tad Hale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My Top 10 List would be the following:

1)International Hallmarks on Silver Collected by Tardy

2)English Goldsmiths and Their Marks by Sir Charles J. Jackson

3)Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers by Dorothy T. Rainwater

4)Silver Plated Flatware Patterns by Davis and Deibel

5)Jeweler's Sterling Flatware Pattern Index by JCK

6)Subscription to Silver Magazine 1-866-841-0112

7)American Jewelry Manufacturers by Dorothy T. Rainwater

8)American Silver Flatware 1837-1910 by Noel Turner

9)Kovel's American Silver Marks 1650 to the Present by Ralph and Terry Kovel (although this book has many mistakes in it)

10)Old Silver and Old Sheffield Plate by Howard Pitcher Okie

Thanks, Tad

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jprice33

Posts: 204
Registered: Sep 2000

iconnumber posted 02-13-2006 05:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for jprice33     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I like Tad's list & think it's a positive to include International books in the beginner's list..

also like the inclusion of Kovel's..

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FWG

Posts: 845
Registered: Aug 2005

iconnumber posted 02-13-2006 11:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for FWG     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ah, that raises the question I've been waiting to see: Okie or Wyler? Both cribbed much of their tables from others, and possibly some of the text/information as well. Both are widely available used, for reasonable prices. I've never compared the two closely; I have both on the shelf side by side, and it's generally a matter of chance which jumps into my hands when I turn back to them (which is less often now that I have other books). Has anyone compared them for utility?

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doc

Posts: 728
Registered: Jul 2003

iconnumber posted 02-13-2006 11:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for doc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have both Okie and Wyler, and I think Wyler is better. I use it more often, which is I guess the definition of utility! I also applaud the inclusion of Kovel's. Most of these source books have their problems (including both Okie and Wyler), but it still is a good comprehensive starting point.

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ahwt

Posts: 2334
Registered: Mar 2003

iconnumber posted 02-13-2006 11:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ahwt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Three books that I would recommend for a beginner interested in American silver are:
“Historic Silver of the Colonies and its Makers”, by Francis Hill Bigelow
“Collecting American 19th Century Silver”, by Katharine Morrison McClinton: and
“Early American Silver”, by Martha Gandy Fales.

These books are readily available at very reasonable prices, are fun to read and provide very good foundation to any library.

Two more that come to mind are;
“American Silver at Winterthur”, by Ian M. G. Quimby and
“Elegant Plate”, edited by Deborah Dependahl Waters

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tmockait

Posts: 963
Registered: Jul 2004

iconnumber posted 02-13-2006 02:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tmockait     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One more thing to keep in mind here, our goal is to have a brief annotation that describes not only the strengths but also the weaknesses of each work. Information on where to get the book and approximate cost will be helpful to beginners as well. For example, Wyler's is inexpensive, easy to find and fairly straigh forward as far as English hallmarks go. It has the worst indexing and cross reference system I have ever seen, and the images for continental system are very small.

Tardy is great, but has one very irritating quirck. The translator left the alphabatizing of countries as it would be in French. Hence, Germany appears after Algeria because in French Germany is "Allemagne".

Some of the posts on this thread could be turned into paragraph-length annotations very useful to new comers.

Tom

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adelapt

Posts: 418
Registered: May 2003

iconnumber posted 02-13-2006 03:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for adelapt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Brief descriptions of the strengths and weaknesses of book are fine, but will depend on where the referee is coming from, as far as knowledge goes. As far as sources and prices go, they may have a place where the book is readily and commonly available, but can be very variable indeed otherwise. They also could contravene the Forum guidelines, and perhaps would be better left alone. Anyone looking at this site can just as easily check Amazon, or any other online book searching/selling site.

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tmockait

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iconnumber posted 02-13-2006 08:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tmockait     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Good points, but I was just thinking of general info. "This work is readily available and relatively inexpensive." Or "Although an outstanding work, this book is fairly pricy, ranging from $100-150 . . ." As long as no one promotes a specific site or offers to sell anything, I doubt such advice would violate forum guidelines, but the forum masters can make that call.

I understand the problem of subjectivity, but I think brief annotations can really help the new collector. A long list of books of varying prices and quality gives the novice no clear guidance on where to begin. Also, those of us who signed up to do this project have talked about having annotations vetted by the group and/or the forum moderators.

Tom

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ozfred

Posts: 87
Registered: Sep 2002

iconnumber posted 02-13-2006 08:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ozfred     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As there are questions concerning plated items, maybe the 1991 publication "Sheffield & Birmingham Victorian Electroplaters Book of Marks" by Andrea De Giovanni, could be included in the list.

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Paul Lemieux

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Registered: Apr 2000

iconnumber posted 02-14-2006 12:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paul Lemieux     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The following are a few of my most beloved books that also happen to be in print or relatively easy to find. They're all highly informative & well illustrated.

Warman's Jewelry by Christie Romero. It's not strictly about silver, but there's more than enough to justify its inclusion here. The first edition of Warman's was the first book I bought as a beginning silver jewelry collector.

Tiffany Silver Flatware by William Hood et al.

Auction Catalogs, like the Wagstaff or Rapaport collections.

For 20th Century silver...
-Modernism in American Silver, Jewel Stern
-Modernist Jewelry, Marbeth Schon
-Jewelry & Metalwork in the Arts & Crafts Tradition, Karlin

I apologize if I've duplicated items that are already on the list.

[This message has been edited by Paul Lemieux (edited 02-14-2006).]

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Tad Hale

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iconnumber posted 02-14-2006 10:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tad Hale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The reason I chose Okie over Wyler was because the Okie book also has some elementary marks for European and Continental silver and the Wyler book does not. These 10 books I listed are only a small part of a basic foundation for learning about silver, I could easily list 10 more. I think others should list 10 books as well, instead of 3 or 4. This way everyone can get an idea on which books would be the best for the beginner.

Also, all of these books I listed are fairly common and inexpensive except the Turner book which usually runs $100+ (which is a great book and worth the money).

Thanks, Tad

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ahwt

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iconnumber posted 02-14-2006 03:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ahwt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I should have added these books to my list of favorites:
“Maryland Silver in the Collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art”, text by Jennifer Faulds Goldsborough,
“Silver in Maryland”, by Jennifer Faulds Goldsborough and,
“Maryland Silversmiths 1715-1830”, by J. Hall Pleasants and Howard Sill.
The first two are generally available and the last was reprinted by Robert Alan Green so it is somewhat available.
Maryland silver was greatly influenced by the silversmiths working in Philadelphia and I wish that there were books of this quality that studied the great silver from that city. Philadelphia silver certainly shows up in many exhibits and books, but I do not know of any book simply devoted to Philadelphia silver.

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jprice33

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iconnumber posted 02-14-2006 05:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jprice33     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The organizational quality (Dictionary format) of Harold Newman's AN ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY OF SILVERWARE lends itself useful to beginners & others of further expertise..

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outwest

Posts: 390
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iconnumber posted 02-15-2006 12:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for outwest     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
All right now! I'm going to be BROKE!

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t-man-nc

Posts: 327
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iconnumber posted 02-15-2006 04:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for t-man-nc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that the beginners list may be "Subjective" based on location of the beginner, and the most probable “Type” of finds (usefulness)....

Would it be fair to say that a beginners list should lean toward what the beginner might see more of in their local area? For any specific book to be of use, the book would have to address the subject matter in question related to what one might find.

If I lived just out side of Paris France, I wouldn’t expect to find much American Coin, but would expect to see a number of European pieces. If however, I live in the US, then I would expect to find a lot of sterling, some American Coin but not many European pieces.

So I guess what I'm getting at, is that maybe there should be a different top ten depending on where you are, and are most likely to run up on, as I have to assume these are for reference and only of use if they reference what I am looking for.

Top ten for the UK might begin with those books that depict the UK (English, Irish, Scots, and Minor guilds) followed by a French reference, a German reference, an American, and an Australian, "Broad References all" etc.) because that’s what they will most likely see and have need of.

Am American starter set may include a Sterling ID guide (Turner, Hagen), with a Rainwater’s, Kovel’s, Fenimore’s, Fales’s and a Jackson’s, Tardy’s, etc...

Just an opinion…

"Smaug"


PS Outwest, go to the local book outlet or library and take a look at Fenimore’s book, I think you may like what you see, based on what you said earlier related to Coin Silver and Pictures...

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tmockait

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iconnumber posted 02-15-2006 04:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tmockait     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Since both inviduals and silver pieces travel the globe, local area would be a tough call. We are tyring to guide novices to some useful sources to get them started. Book reviews are always somewhat subjective (which is why Hemingway called literary critics "lice on the pages of literature"), but I think we can reach a general consensus on some basic texts (e.g., Rainwater is a must even for beginning US collectors, Wyler offers a good start at an affordable price, and Tardy is a good source for the contient). This one post contains a wealth of information. We just need to pull it togher in a simpler, more accessible form.

Tom

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ahwt

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iconnumber posted 02-15-2006 07:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ahwt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Finding books about silver is not that different from finding out about silver, ceramics or any other decorative object. I think the first undertaking should be to find a good dealer and talk to him or her. Talking to a good dealer can go a long way in gaining the knowledge one needs to make intelligent purchases. A knowledgeable dealer can find out what your interests are and point you in the right direction. Silver dealers will of course know about silver books, but one should not overlook book dealers. I am always amazed with the knowledge of one book dealer friend who has an amazing breath of knowledge in the whole field of books and is always willing to share his knowledge. Many of my most enjoyable books were brought from him. It is also much more fun to talk directly to a knowledgeable source. My thought here is that the suggestions for a list with annotations is important as an additional source of information, but it should not replace a more basic form of communication; i.e., that between a buyer and a dealer.

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Tad Hale

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iconnumber posted 02-15-2006 11:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tad Hale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Having been in the Antique and Collectibles business for 40+ years, I have found that Antique Dealers have a somewhat vast knowledge on antiques in general but they do not specialize in all areas of this field, it is not possible. The advanced Collector however who specializes in one field will know more than the general line Antique Dealer who knows a little on the subject.

For example, I can talk to anyone about American Silver which I have studied on a somewhat intelligent basis, but if you want to talk with me on Russian Silver forget it, about all I know is that their silver is 84% and their most famous Goldsmith was Faberge. I know absolutely nothing about his workmen or any other Russian makers.

This holds true with booksellers as well, they can have a good general knowledge about books but can't possibly know all there is to know about each and every category in the field of books. During this computer age you can now find reference books online thru the book searching sites and get a feel for the retail prices, for the most part these prices are somewhat high but bargains can be found if you can be a little patient.

You would think this 10 book thread for beginners should be something easy to do but it seems to have gotten out of hand.

Maybe someone should put a list of 50 books on North American Silver and 50 Books on Foreign Silver out there and have everyone vote on which ones they think would be best for the beginner.

Thanks, Tad

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IJP

Posts: 326
Registered: Oct 2004

iconnumber posted 02-17-2006 11:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for IJP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi, Tad:

I would be tickled pink if this thread got "out of hand". We would like as many reasonable suggestions as the forum participants care to give. The SSF Library Project members will be responsible for paring down the body of suggestions, and we will give equal consideration to all of the books cited here.

I like your own list very much, Tad, and I hope other members take the time to create similar lists, or suggestions for single books that they feel should be included. There will naturally be a number of books that most members would agree on, so I understand if new suggestions are beginning to get scarce.

Though off-topic, as to Russian silver, "84" is the standard most frequently seen on such pieces, but unlike much of western Europe, the Russians until 1927 did not use a percentage or per-thousandth system. The 84 designates 84 zolotniki, or 84 parts per 96. The system is based on the old Russian "pound", which is made up of 96 parts each known as a zolotnik. This is why after 1927 the most common standard mark became (.)875, or 84 divided by 96, expressed as thousandth parts per whole.

[This message has been edited by IJP (edited 02-17-2006).]

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2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


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