The Cambridge History of Western Textiles 2 Volume Hardback Boxed Set

Out of all of the books on textiles, textile art, and textile history that I own, this is the reference that I use the most. Not only is it an excellent basic source, but it also has great bibliographical information which makes up for its shortcomings in other areas. Each section has its own bibliography, which is divided by articles, making it easy to find what you're looking for. It's a great starting point for research because of the quality of the information, the scope of coverage, and the references for more in-depth study. As a bonus, I find it also makes for fascinating pleasure reading, though I appreciate that this isn't everyone's idea of a Saturday afternoon well-spent.

I had been searching for a source book of this quality and pedigree for a long time. This provides the reader with an excellent grounding to the subject and a reliable framework to confidently explore the subject further knowing they have their foundations squarely set. I bought this book for £74 - a huge amount of money for me personally but a massive bargain compared to the normal retail price which had put these volumes well beyond my reach.

This was exactly what I was looking for! I was lucky enough to be able to acquire a second-hand set through Amazon, but in excellent condition. The chapters are very enlightening and written by experts in each area. The illustrations have been expertly chosen and the bibliography opens new doors for research.