George Mayerle’s Eye Test Chart (ca. 1907)
This fantastic eye chart — measuring 22 by 28 inches with a positive version on one side and negative on the other — is the work of German optometrist and Ameri…more
20th Century
Ha Bun Shu: a Japanese Book of Wave and Ripple Designs (1919)
Wonderful selection of wave and ripple designs produced by the Japanese artist Mori Yuzan, which would have found their way onto swords and associated paraphernalia…more
Pages From an Illustrated Catalogue of Period Ornaments (ca. 1919)
The Illustrated Catalogue of Period Ornaments Cast in Composition and Wood Fibre for Woodwork-Furniture features samples of wood carvings offered by the Decorators …more
Manual Training — Play Problems (1917)
This charming book from 1917 presents a manual training in what the author William S. Marten terms constructive-play, full of how-to guides for making all manner of…more
Bible Symbols (1908)
As the subtitle eloquently explains “The choicest passages of God’s word put in the fascinating garb of pictures”….more
Illustrated initials from a German fairytale book (1919)
Illustrated initials from Deutsche Märchen seit Grimm (German Fairytales since Grimm), a German fairytale book from 1919. Housed at: Internet Archive | From: Unive…more
The First Six Books of The Elements of Euclid (1847)
Oliver Byrne’s version of ‘Euclid’s Elements’ which used coloured graphic explanations of each geometric principle, remarkable for its innovative graphic conception…more
Shin-Bijutsukai – Japanese Design Magazine (1902)
Turn of the century Japanese design magazine, gifted to the Smithsonian Museum by Robert W. Chanler….more
Japanese Designs (1902)
Selected pages from 1901 and 1902 issues of Shin-Bijutsukai, a Japanese design magazine. You can see the original magazines in their wonderful entirety here in our …more
Dazzle Ships
Dazzle camouflage (also known as Razzle Dazzle or Dazzle painting) was a military camouflage paint scheme used on ships, extensively during World War I and to a les…more
A Theory of Pure Design: Harmony, Balance, Rhythm (1907)
A Theory of Pure Design – Harmony, Balance, Rhythm; 1907; Houghton Mifflin, Boston. A book detailing the science behind harmony, balance, and rhythm in art. The a…more
The Selection Of Type Is Just As Important As The Selection Of Words (1939?)
Alphabetical Index to Type Faces, by G.A. Davis Printing Company; 1939?; Toronto. An “Alphabetical Index to Type Faces” from the G.A. Davis Printing Company. Wh…more