A History of Thimbles

by Edwin F. Holmes

A HISTORY OF THIMBLES is the most authoritative and comprehensive survey that has been written to date concerning thimbles and their history, and it may well prove to be the definitive work on the subject. The book is aimed both at collectors who want a guide to help them identify their thimbles and find out more about them, and at those who desire a more general history of the subject. Many collectors will be gratified to find that an entire chapter has been devoted to the more popular Dorcas thimbles and that considerable attention has been paid to base metal and to plastic thimbles. It is the author's contention that iron and brass thimbles are in some ways more important than thimbles made of precious metals. Other collectors will welcome the layout of the book which, by having separate chapters for each of the four main thimbles producing countries as well as separate chapters for each of the materials from which thimbles are made, provides a ready means of reference. Readers will also appreciate the large number of illustrations, including some taken from manufacturers' catalogs, which have never appeared before.

254 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985