Now here is an odd thing.
A couple of years ago I purchased a hardbound copy of The Shuttle-Craft Book of American Hand-Weaving by Mary Meigs Atwater at a silent auction fund raiser. I refer to this book frequently, so I am familiar with it's text, drafts, and photographs.At my guild meeting last weekend, there were some used books for sale, among them a paperback copy of The Shuttle-Craft Book of American Hand-Weaving. Being a wordy title with a different cover, I had to stop and think if this was the same book by Mary Meigs Atwater that I already had, or if it was another. I flipped through the pages, but it didn't look familiar, so I bought it.
When I got home, I went to my bookshelves to see what my other Atwater book was. I was surprised to see that it had the exact same title. A quick look at the title page revealed that both were published by The Macmillian Company and both carried an 1928 copyright date. However, they were reprintings from different years.
Feeling quite silly for purchasing a second copy of the same book, I was nonetheless puzzled as to why I hadn't recognized this. I started to compare them chapter by chapter. The two books were organized differently, but the first couple of chapters were identical. However, after that, they are not the same book!
My hardcover 1928 version (printed in 1944), contains such chapters as:
- "The Practice of Hand-Weaving - Spinning"
- "Dyeing"
- "Dressing the Loom"
- "Rug Weaving"
- "The Weaving of a Coverlet"
- "Finishing Hand-Woven Fabrics"
- "The Linen Weaves"
- "Counterpanes"
- "Beginner's Problems"
- "Design of the Fabric"
- "Choice of Pattern and Color"
- "Setting up the Loom"
- "Adjustments, Knots, the Tie-Up"
- "The Plain Weave"
- "The Twill Weave"
- "The Four Harness Overshot Weave"
- "Leno"
- "Pick-Up Weaving"
The moral of the story? Don't judge a book by it's cover, or rather by it's title. I realize that newer editions of books are often updated, but this re-write seems to be more extensive than just an update.
So, I didn't exactly purchase a duplicate after all. As Ma Ingalls would say, "All's well that ends well." And I have a brand new book!
© 21 Feb. 2009 at http://leighsfiberjournal.blogspot.com
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15 comments:
Wow, good to know, I'll look very closely at books before I don't buy them in the future.
It sounds more like you have two volumes in a series. A very handy series to own in the realm of fiber work. Lucky you!
Fascinating. MMA revised it herself, I take it? Very interesting.
Interesting and informative. I'll have to look closer at the used books I've passed up because I already have them.
I have a 7th printing (1966) and it is a little different yet. But even more interesting is how your post links up with my post today. MMA is in the air.
Well, I never would have guessed it if it hadn't happened to me. Bonnie, that's very interesting about the later edition! Now I have to look for that one too.
Very interesting! I'll have to be watchful for similar happy accidents.
I had heard that there were major differences in the various reprints of this book. Interesting. I'll have to go look more closely at mine.
Kimmen
How fascinating! Glad it turned out well. I've got a 1937 copy, same as your 1944.
The most disappointing purchase I've made was a book that turned out to have been re-bound with 60 pages missed out of the middle - and it was an interesting chapter on colour and weave. I'd not have noticed if I hadn't wanted to read that chapter! I got a part refund from the seller, and eventually found another copy.
Sounds like a great book to have.
Ma Ingalls is a good one to quote!
Thanks for this comparison. Do you keep track of the provenance of the books you buy?
There is also considerable variety in the various editions of Mary Black's Key to Weaving and New Key to Weaving. The latter, especially, lacks a great deal of material present in several earlier and later editions. AFAIK, the 2nd revised edition, published in 1979 or 1980, has the most information.
Thanks for posting about this. I have an old one I love, but I've never seen the new.
I used this book in college years ago and wanted to obtain my own copy. I am confused as to which version to purchase...any advice.
Anonymous, that's a good question. I've tried to find out when MMA published her last revised edition but am not sure. A lot of re-sellers don't even list the publication date, and I believe someone just published a reprint last year.
Of my two editions, the second contains all of the same drafts and photos with some additional ones too. The information is different though, so personally, I will probably try to collect all the editions I can get my
hands on!
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