Debrett's Book of Antiques By Patrick Macnaghten
Debrett's Book of Antiques (Premium Collectible Hardcover Edition)
An Invaluable and Uniquely Practical Guide to the International Antiques Market and Connoisseurship
An Invaluable and Uniquely Practical Guide to the International Antiques Market and Connoisseurship
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Debrett's Book of Antiques
- Author / Editor: Patrick Macnaghten
- Publisher: Debrett's Peerage Ltd., London
- Publication Date: 1980
- ISBN-10: 0905649338
- ISBN-13: 9780905649337
- Edition Details: First Edition / First Printing. A highly regarded landmark reference compiled under the prestigious Debrett's imprint, uniting specialized market insights from world-class experts.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium full-cloth boards, finished with elegant gilt-stamped lettering and emblem details across the spine face.
- Physical Format: Quarto (4to), 208 pages. Densely illustrated with a curated selection of full-colour plates, high-fidelity monochrome studio photographs, and maker's mark diagrams.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior Boards: The original full-cloth boards are exceptionally straight, solid, and flat. The spine remains completely unbroken, firm, and uncreased, with all corners maintaining crisp, sharp lines. Only microscopic, negligible storage friction is visible along the extreme corner tips, completely consistent with careful handling over the decades. The volume is protected inside a premium cellophane cover sleeve.
- Interior: The structural text block is robust, bright, and tightly bound to the hinges. Internal leaves, high-gloss photo layouts, and historical maker marks are exceptionally clean, crisp, and completely free from user ink highlighting, text underlining, dog-ears, or dealer pencil notations.
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The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
- Condition & Integrity: The original illustrated vintage dust jacket is present and visually striking. It exhibits limited signs of age-appropriate edge wear and minor surface friction rubs from shelf storage, but remains completely intact and unclipped without deep tears or paper loss. The vintage jacket is fully stabilized and preserved under the protective cellophane cover wrap.
Synopsis & Historical Value
First released in 1980 by Debrett's Peerage Ltd, Debrett's Book of Antiques stands as an elegant and uniquely practical milestone in the literature of connoisseurship. Masterfully curated by Patrick Macnaghten, this reference guide was built on the collective expertise of a number of distinguished contributors. Each specialist was meticulously selected not only for their highly advanced knowledge of specific antique categories but also for their warm understanding of the real-world problems that encounter both the amateur enthusiast and the seasoned collector.
The volume spans a wide array of collectible disciplines, providing clear guidance on furniture, silver, porcelain, glass, clocks, and fine art. Rather than listing dry prices, the text emphasizes how to evaluate craftsmanship, spot clever reproductions, understand historical provenance, and navigate auction rooms with confidence. Featuring over a hundred high-quality illustrations, this well-maintained volume remains an incredibly practical and beautiful handbook for anyone looking to build or manage an antique collection today.
Author Profile: Patrick Macnaghten
Patrick Macnaghten was a highly respected British art historian, antiquarian, and prolific author who dedicated his career to demystifying the world of fine art and antique collecting for the general public. Celebrated for his engaging, conversational, yet authoritative prose style, Macnaghten wrote several core reference texts during the mid-to-late 20th century, including Working with Antiques and Investing in Clocks and Watches. His unique approach paired deep, archival academic knowledge with practical buying strategies, making his work an invaluable asset for international estate appraisers, auction houses, and private collectors.
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