Color problems. A practical manual for the lay student of color.

1902. VANDERPOEL, Emily Noyes. Color problems. A Practical Manual for the Lay Student of Color. xv, 137 pp. Illustrated with 117 colour plates, each on a stub, with plastic square and mask. 8vo., 194 x 145 mm, bound in original green cloth, gilt on front cover and spine. New York: Longmans, Green & Co., 1902. First Edition of a magnificent and little known masterpiece of American book-making. Vanderpoel was a New York artist, author, and collector of oriental art objects. Color Problems was intended as a manual for all those (decorators, designers, lithographers, etc.) requiring a fuller understanding of colour theory. She refers to Chevreul, Bezold, Rood, Church, and others as having written more technical treatises or artists' manuals. The text focuses on colour contrasts and harmonies, with 117 plates printed in colour, and includes an appendix of definitions and terms and an interesting bibliography of fifty titles in several languages. This copy is complete with the mask and 2 pieces of plastic, which are usually missing, inside the pocket of the rear cover. Spine rubbed, but a good copy of a scarce and wonderful book. Wurmfeld, Color Documents 41 (illustrating four of the plates in colour). Birren 629.