The Historical Encyclopedia of Costumes

Organized into four principal sections with a scope ranging from the ancient world to the nineteenth century, this illustrated volume offers a detailed accounting of men's and women's clothing, both fashions and formal wear as well as everyday garb

The appearance of Racinet's History of World Costume between 1876 and 1888 was a landmark in publishing history: this six-volume classic was the first large-scale costume book to use high-quality color photography in the reproduction of its sumptuous lithographs. Somewhat eccentric in coverage, it encompassed Europe and lands from Japan to the Arctic Circle and North America but excluded the American colonies. The present volume condenses Racinet's work and translates it into English for the first time. Its 2000 color reproductions cover the upper classes and royalty, as most costume books do, but, more importantly, also depict the working classes, soldiers, and the poor. Though this edition sacrifices glossary and bibliography and pares down the original, it is highly recommended for lay reader and scholar alike. Daniel J. Lombardo, Jones Lib., Inc., Amherst, Mass.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.