Visual Materials
Bartholomew's National System of Industrial Drawing, Free Hand, New Edition, Nos. 6, 6, 10, 11, 12, 12, 13
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- Description
- Seven drawing books entitled Bartholomew's National System of Industrial Drawing, Free Hand, New Edition, Nos. 6, 6, 10, 11, 12, 12, 13, by William N. Bartholomew, published by three different publishers, 1881-1882. Nos. 6 (env. 5), 11 (env. 8) and 12 (env. 10) were published by Potter, Ainsworth & Co. of Boston, New York and Chicago. Nos. 6 (env. 6), 10 (env. 7), 13 (env. 11) were published by American Book Company of New York, Cincinnati and Chicago. No. 12 (env. 9) was published by A.S. Barnes & Co. of New York and Chicago. All of the books are 16 pages in length and contain 14-30 numbered exercises. This series progresses from simple, two-dimensional copying and tracing (book no. 6) to significantly more complex, 3-dimensional copying and replication of the provided images (book no. 13). The books in this series are designed to build upon the previous skills and knowledge gained in the earlier books: "the pupil is gradually led to place more dependence upon his own judgement." The exercises in book no. 6 consist primarily of two-dimensional floral designs, patterns and vases and pitchers. Book no. 10 has a combination of two-dimensional patterns and designs, but also has several three-dimensional floral images of leaves and bunches of fruit. Books 12 and 13 are almost exclusively three-dimensional floral patterns, designs and scenes. Instructional text accompanies the exercises, but there is space next to each exercise for copying. All of the front covers are identical to each other; a simple but decorative line border surrounds the text, with an Egyptian aten between the title and edition statements and the publisher. The books published by Potter, Ainsworth & Co. have a publisher's advertisement on the back cover which is entitled Standard Text Books. The lone book in this group published by A.S. Barnes & Co. bears the same advertisement on its back cover. The remaining books have a publisher's advertisement from the American Book Company on their back covers. On the insides of the front and back covers of each of these books is an explanation of the philosophy of the Bartholomew system and the goals and objectives for each book in the series. Only the first copy of book no. 6 (env. 5) has been completed by a previous owner. In this book, the first exercise has been colored in with crayons, and the rest have been completed in pencil. "Robert C. Vose" is written in ms. at the head of this book. Book Nos. 6 (env. 6), 10, 11, 12 (second copy, env. 10) and 13 have ".50" (price) written in ms., in pencil, in the upper left-hand corner of the front cover. Book No. 12 (env. 9) has "3-" (price) written in ms., in pencil, in the upper right-hand of the front cover.
