For over 30 years I have been keeping records of institutional holdings of these books, suites of plates, ephemeral publications &c. These are augmented with variants and additions which have appeared in commerce, in booksellers' catalogues over the last 70 years, as well as auction records.
It includes instruction manuals on all forms of painting, drawing, engraving, colour theory, perspective, anatomy for artists, &c., and currently runs to over1,000 pages.
This is being published on-line as it progresses.
I would welcome details of any rarer or unusual items, especially suites of the 17th century 'drawing books' which mainly exist only in fragmentary parts, or single plates. Also ancillary material such as prospectuses, subscription announcements, trade-cards, adverts, hand-bills which relate to the books, drawing academies, and drawing masters. Manuscript material also helps build this picture.
Please also offer items for sale as I buy actively in this area.
Please email me on:
kenspelmanbooks@gmail.com
Thank you
Tony Fothergill
