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Design
Here you will find our selection of works on design. Sometimes abstract sometimes architectural, always interesting. Please check back regularly. We often search out rare works on the subject but they tend not to hang around for long. If you have any special requests or questions about the books on design below, please do get in touch.
We deliver to all locations worldwide. and we send to every continent, every week. All our books are packed very carefully.
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1924 Ernest Gimson His Life & WorkLondon; Oxford: 1924A brilliant limited edition biography on the life and work of the noted English furniture design and architect Ernest Gimson, signed and previously owned by Ambrose Heal, with the scarce original dust wrapper and advertisement. -
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1944 Georgian Cabinet-MakersLondon: 1944The illustrated first edition of this fascinating study of the history of cabinet makers, with a letter from the director of the publishing company to Ambrose Heal, a furniture designer himself. -
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1930 Early Keyboard Instruments, From Their Beginning to the Year 1820London: 1930A presentation copy of the first edition of Philip James's history of keyboard instruments, with a tipped in signed letter from the author to furniture designer Ambrose Heal. -
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1951 Thomas Tompion: His Life & WorkLondon: 1951A signed first edition of this profusely illustrated biographical study of English clockmaker, Thomas Tompion, inscribed by the author to Ambrose Heal. -
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1940 Furnishing Your Home: A Practical Guide to Inexpensive Furnishing and DecoratingLondon: 1940A very scarce first edition 1940's guide to home furnishing, inscribed by the author and presented to Ambrose Heal, the noted Chairman of the 'Heal's' furniture company. -
1907 English Furniture Designers of the Eighteenth CenturyLondon: 1907Ambrose Heal's personal annotated copy of Constance Simon's illustrated study of the leading furniture designers of Georgian England. -
2007 3 Vols The English House by Hermann Muthesius with Original Dust Wrappers and SlipcaseLondon: 2007The three-volume first complete English edition of Muthesius’s foundational study of English domestic architecture that helped shape modern design theory, with original dust wrappers and slipcase. -
1924 Chats on WedgwoodLondon: 1924The first edition of this study on the iconic 'Wedgewood' fine China, written by a member of the company, inscribed and with a fantastic letter from the author to Ambrose Heal. -
1974 Impressionist Prints: Lithographs, Etchings, Drypoints, Aquatints, WoodcutsLondon: 1974A very smart first edition of this celebration of Impressionist prints from French art historian Roger Passeron. -
1979 E. McKnight Kauffer: A Designer and His PublicLondon: 1979The first edition biography and visual study of Edward McKnight Kauffer, featuring numerous plates and in-text illustrations chronicling the designer’s life and work. -
1970 Toulouse-Lautrec: His Complete Lithographs and DrypointsLondon: 1970A pleasing later edition of this study of the lithographs and drypoints of French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. -
1968 Galoways of BalernoLondon: 1968A pleasing first edition of this vanishingly scarce record of the John Galloway & Company Limited paper makers. -
1925 Wilh. Gerstung in Offenbach a. Main und die Rudolfinischen DruckeOffenbach: 1925A very scarce copy of this limited edition study of the works of the Wilhelm Gerstung publishing and printing house in Offenbach, written in the original German. -
1990 Masters of American Design: Frederic GoudyNew York: 1990A very smart first edition of this study on the life and work of American artist and designer Frederic Goudy, from the Masters of American Design series. -
1998 Typography, Typographie, TypographieKoln: 1998A pleasing first edition of this study of typography, with text in English, German, and French. -
1924 New Days-New Ways: The Arrangement of the House and Its WorkLondon: 1924A very scarce illustrated guide to household design and management, written by British suffragist and cookery author Lucy H. Yates. -
1909 In English Homes: Vol IIILondon: 1909The first edition of this richly illustrated celebration of English homes and design by Charles Latham. -
1920-6 English HomesLondon: 1920-6A set of five first edition volumes from H. Avray Tipping's heavily illustrated series on English Homes throughout periods of history. -
1925-1997 3vol A Selection of Studies on the Life and Works of Jan TschicholdLeipzig; Zurich; London: 1925-1997Three very smart booklets on the typography and topographical design of German designer Jan Tschichold, two of which are written in the original German. -
1955-1976 3vol A Collection of Typographic Studies from Jan Tschichold in the Original GermanGoteborg; Basel; Zurich: 1955-1976Three very smart booklets on typography and topographical design from German designer Jan Tschichold, in the original German. -
1951 2vol Printing Types: Their History, Forms, and UseMassachusetts: 1951A smart two volume set of the second edition of Updike's illustrated study of printing types. -
1913 Weiss-Fraktur Die Schrift des Tempel-VerlagsFrankfurt: 1913A detailed artistic study of the Tempel-Verlag typeface, designed by Emil Rudolf Weiss. In the original German. -
2004 Typothek I: Klassische Antiqua-Schriften in OriginalschnittenNot Stated: 2004A very pleasing copy of this library of antique typefaces in the original cuts, in the original German. -
1991 Gogmagog: Morris Cox & the Gogmagog PressPinner: 1991A very pleasing first edition of this illustrated exploration of the life and work of Morris Cox and his Gogmagog Press. -
1909 "Silk" in Nets, Finings, Gimpings and Fancy EffectsNottingham: 1909An exceptionally scarce, first English edition of this Nottingham-published technical guide to silk lace design, this richly illustrated manual offers detailed instruction for draughtsman, lace makers and students. -
1913 The Elements of Drawing in Three Letters to BeginnersLondon: 1913A handsomely bound prize copy in full tree calf, this classic guide by John Ruskin offers beginners a richly illustrated, nature-focused foundation in drawing. -
1977 Kendal in the Nineteenth Century: A Book of DrawingsKendal: 1977A first edition of this collection of illustrations based on early photographs of the market town Kendal, Westmorland and Furness. -
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1975 Schonste Bucher Aus Aller Welt SonderschauLeipzig: 1975A smartly bound award from the Schonste Bucher Aus Aller Welt competition and exhibition for the year 1975, signed by two of the judges. -
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1995 Schrift + Symbol in Stein, Holz und MetallMunchen: 1995A vanishingly scarce third edition of this richly illustrated guide to the craft of carving letters and symbols in stone, wood, and metal, signed, and dated, by collaborator, Wolfgang Jakob. -
1952 Meisterbuch der SchriftRavensburg: 1952A first edition of this masterclass in the art of lettering and typography, presenting scripts and type from history to modernity for designers and typographers. -
1960 Erfreuliche Drucksachen durch gute TypographieRavensburg: 1960A very pleasing first edition of this study of typography from German designer Jan Tschichold, in the original German. -
1887 Down to the Land's EndLondon: 1887A scarce, illustrated regional travel piece, exploring West Cornwall, combining an article by John Sedding with numerous illustrations by T Raffles Davison. -
1870-1873 The Technical Educator: An Encyclopaedia of Technical EducationLondon : 1886A profusely illustrated primer on applied science and industrial arts, issues one to four of the Technical Series from Cassell's Popular Educator, smartly bound into two volumes. -
2008 ABC3DParis : 2008A fine copy of this innovative pop-up alphabet from French graphic designer, illustrator and children's author, Marion Bataille. -
1989 Geometry in Three DimensionsLondon: 1989A very limited, signed pop-up graphic project from Richard de Pesando, complete during his study at the Royal College of Art. -
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2010 Drawn Direct to the Plate: Noel Carrington and the Puffin Picture BookLondon: 2010An excellent first edition of this study of the work of English book designer Noel Carrington for the Puffin Picture Books, signed by the author.