posted 04-10-2005 02:38 PM            

This will be my last question (for a while) . I would like to know what are some favorite books for beginners in collecting Sterling. I do not have an interest really, in "sets" of flatware.Sometimes I do like older plate pieces. I am interested in the HISTORY part of the Silver as well. the companies or makers. Sometimes I buy the Sothebys catalogs (after the sale) , my last one was wonderful about the Old Church Silver in Ct...and I do like old spoons..maybe this helps for anyone to recommend books. Even articles on the internet I could make copies of? Maybe some of you could remember back when you first started collecting and what books you liked the best, (and of course I always look at the questions answers on this site ... ANYTHING will be appreciated very much- Lynda

posted 04-10-2005 03:33 PM            

This is a thumbnail paperback book of only 32 pages, but well-packed with informative photos and information on the progression of spoon styles in Britain, which of course led the American styles until about the Victorian era. The ISBN of my 1999 printing of the 1987 copyright text is 0-85263-910-4.

There was also a good article in the old Silver-rama magazine, April, 1970, by Robert Alan Green entitled "More Notes On Spoon Types", in which the author provided nice drawings of the 20 types (by his count) of early American spoons from the sixteenth to the early nineteenth century. I'm not sure as to how you might obtain a reprint. Perhaps other board members may know of this or of a more modern version with better availability.

If you are interested in how early American silverware was made, you might try "The Colonial Silversmith" by Henry J. Kaufman, copyright 1969 (ISBN of my copy is 0-88365-136-X).

This book explains the early smith tools and how they were used, and covers flatware, though there is much more info presented on hollow ware. Good reading!