American Glass Paperweights
by Francis Edgar Smith

If you wish to order this book, please e-mail Allan Port at: aport@paperweights.com
 
American Glass Paperweights
by Francis Edgar Smith

Subtitled:  Giving the types, origin, design, colors, names and dates, processes, methods, cuttings, catchwords, and other information now made available for both dealers and collectors

Published in 1939, this rare book is the first book published in the United States exclusively on the subject of  glass paperweights, if not the world.  It is preceded Bergstrom's book on Old Glass Paperweights by one year.  

The book is organized around 30 black and white plates, each with one, two or three paperweights plus a glossary.  Smith based much of his information on discussions and interviews with American glassworkers, some of whom claimed to have made the paperweights featured in the book.  

The book is an interesting early attempt to document the history of paperweights.  It contains the earliest pictures of some kinds of paperweights, including antique American and French weights, American Millville and other frit weights, and even Murano and Whitefriars paperweight style millefiori glasses.  Also included are some Chinese paperweights (sometimes incorrectly identified).  All of this makes it a good addition to a serious collector's library.  

However, it should not be treated as an absolute reference, as there is also much incorrect information in it.  Smith was misled by some of the glassworkers he relied on for information. 

This is the 2nd printing with a green cover.  It is 14 pages shorter than the first edition.  It omits disorganized notes found at the end of the first printing and a picture of the NEGC warehouse.
173 pages.  30 plates in black and white of paperweights plus a frontispiece.
5" by 7 1/4".  Hard bound.  1939.
Some copies have a hand colored frontispiece.  

An unknown number of copies were published in green covers.  See the earlier printing with blue covers for comparison.
I have both printings in stock.

Sections are:

  • Frontispiece
  • Dedication
  • Note (untitled)
  • Preface
  • Contents
  • Introduction
  • Plates and descriptions
  • A List of Explanatory Terms Concerning Glass-Making
Click on the picture to see a plate from the book.

 

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