Collecting Household Linens

I would have given this book 5 stars if the chapters included some of the topics in the second book in the series. For example shade pulls are not something I see very often, nor are they a linen type that I'm specifically interested in, but they get a fair sized section dedicated to them. The research and data is excellent, although because of the size of the book I find it a bit more cumbersome to read. The pictures are fair as well and are not the highest "picture book" quality. They do however show the important details well and clearly and the variety of items shown is a great cross section of what the chapter talks about.Definately well worth the money for someone intersted in vintage linens with little or no background in them.

Frances Johnson not only gives you information on identifying your textiles, but she is a historian as well. The photos are well done, nicely displayed and present a clear image of the linens. Both beginning collectors and seasoned ones will enjoy this reference. Having collected for over thirty years, I was able to not only enjoy this reference, but learn from it as well. Although this is not a "coffee table book", it is packed with useful information, and is light enough to carry with you to auctions, shows etc. The tips on restoration and care are extremely good. The only drawback is that the prices quoted are somewhat on the low side. The reader should recognize that this is a guide. Overall, this is an excellent book to have in your collecting reference library.