{"product_id":"therese-de-dillmont-encyclopedia-of-needlework-c-1890-very-rare-first-english-edition-victorian-needlework-embroidery-antiquarian-book-free-shipping","title":"Thérèse de Dillmont, Encyclopedia of Needlework, c. 1890, Very Rare First English Edition,Victorian Needlework \u0026 Embroidery Antiquarian Book, •Free Shipping","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEncyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont, c. 1890, Very Rare First English Edition From Alsace, France: Victorian Needlework \u0026amp; Embroidery Antiquarian Book, *Free Shipping\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is an exceptionally scarce First English Edition of Thérèse de Dillmont’s celebrated \u003cem\u003eEncyclopedia of Needlework\u003c\/em\u003e, first published circa 1890 and printed in Mulhouse, Alsace, France. The First Editions of this beloved book are very difficult to find.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOnly months after her marriage, Thérèse de Dillmont traveled to the fashionable spa town of Baden-Baden for a cure. Sadly, she died there on May 22, 1890, at only 43 years old, said to be a victim of the influenza epidemic then raging. Her \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eEncyclopedia of Needlework\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e had already begun its extraordinary international success, but Dillmont never lived to see just how influential her book would become.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eOriginally published in French as \u003cem\u003eEncyclopédie des ouvrages de dames\u003c\/em\u003e, Thérèse de Dillmont’s incredibly popular volume became one of the great practical reference works on 19th-century needlework. French, German, and English editions were offered at the time, but this earliest English edition is particularly scarce, especially in this condition and in its distinctive early Paris Green cloth binding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe book contains 578 pages devoted to the extraordinary range of needlework practiced during this time in Victorian history. Hundreds of illustrations accompany detailed instructions in sewing, mending, embroidery, knitting, crochet, macramé, netting, lace making, whitework, drawn work, cut work, tapestry, decorative stitches, materials, tools, threads, and related techniques. It should be noted that none are in color, as these are only found in much later editions of this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eWhat makes this early edition particularly important is its proximity to the work it describes. This was not a later interpretation of Victorian needlework. It was written for women who were actually executing these intricate techniques to create the textiles that survive and which are so desirable today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eFor the textile collector, historian, or accomplished needleworker, this 136-year-old book provides direct access to period methods as they were taught and practiced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis copy is the early English edition without color illustrations and in the early green binding. Its title page, pagination, printer’s information, contents, advertisements, illustrations, DMC tables, endpapers, and other publishing details correspond with the c. 1890 edition held by the Getty Research Institute. Many of these identifying pages are shown in the photographs accompanying this listing and support the c. 1890 date given by Getty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe Paris Green cloth binding is printed in black, with the title incorporated into an attractive foliage design extending across the front cover and spine. Inside are brilliant gold-and-black endpapers printed in a repeating DMC diamond pattern. The book retains gilt along the upper and lower edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis particular copy also has a lovely history of its own. Its early owner signed the title page in pencil: Julia Van Vleet. Of course, when I discovered that another Julia had owned the book, I had to see whether I could find her.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eI found a woman with that distinctive maiden name who was born in Darke County, Ohio, and later died in Michigan. She lived to a ripe old age. Although I cannot establish conclusively that she is \u003cem\u003ethe\u003c\/em\u003e Julia who signed this book, the geographical trail is intriguing, particularly because I acquired the volume from an antiquarian bookseller in Michigan approximately twenty years ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eStill tucked inside is a small torn piece of period newspaper that Julia used as a bookmark. I have left it exactly where I found it. Perhaps she slipped it between the pages while consulting an embroidery pattern or technique. More than a century later, her little bookmark is still there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis is a wonderful surviving copy of an important Victorian needlework reference, desirable both as a collectible 19th-century textile book and as a practical resource for anyone interested in understanding, recreating, or keeping alive the fine needlework techniques from that period. It will make an invaluable reference book for those who collect antique linens, clothing, and other Victorian textiles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFree USPS Priority Shipping within the United States.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSignature confirmation included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFully insured for the purchase price.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCarefully and archivally packed for shipment.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe book is in very good overall condition considering that it is approximately 136 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe original Paris Green cloth binding is tight. The corners are bumped, and there are a few very small stains and fine wrinkles in the cloth of the front cover. The black lettering and foliage decoration remain attractive and clearly visible. The book was not published with a dust jacket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAll pages are present and intact. The volume was printed on inexpensive paper, approximately one quality step above newspaper stock, resulting in significant overall toning. Despite the toning, the interior is overall clean and unmarked apart from Julia Van Vleet’s penciled signature on the title page, as shown in the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe brilliant gold-and-black DMC diamond-pattern endpapers remain particularly striking. Brilliant gilt remains along the upper and lower edges of the book but is substantially worn from the fore edge, consistent with the book’s long history of careful use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThere are no odors or other markings in the book. Overall, its condition is consistent with a volume that was carefully used, read, and referred to by its original owner...lovingly so.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt should be noted that this book will be shipped to you in archival tissues and bag inside a USPS Priority Mail box for the best protection in transit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMeasurements\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMedium Octavo:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e61\/4\" x 9.25\" \u003cbr\u003e15.9 cm x 24.1 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNumbered Pages:  \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e578 pp\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003ePrivately owned, with the early penciled ownership signature of Julia Van Vleet on the title page and her period newspaper bookmark retained within the volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe book subsequently entered the antiquarian book trade in Michigan, where I acquired it approximately twenty years ago. It has remained in my private collection since that time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Gilded Griffin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53838578778405,"sku":null,"price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0979\/3952\/1829\/files\/ENCYOFNEEDLEWORKBOOKGALLERY.jpg?v=1789602237","url":"https:\/\/thegildedgriffinshop.com\/products\/therese-de-dillmont-encyclopedia-of-needlework-c-1890-very-rare-first-english-edition-victorian-needlework-embroidery-antiquarian-book-free-shipping","provider":"The Gilded Griffin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}