Written and illustrated by Gwen White.
Published by Arco Pub. Co, New York, in 1971 (this second edition 1972)
Binding: Hardback
Condition: VG
Antique toy collecting is a field in which it is hard to ascertain reliable information. This is the premise on which author Gwen White began work on her book, Antique Toys And Their Backgrounds. She wanted to celebrate antique toys and share their stories, origins and creators with the world. This book was published in 1971 and is as relevant today as it was then: a treasure trove of valuable information, as well as a imaginative journey into a world of knuckle bones, hobby horses, automata, pull-alongs, rattles, spillikins and so much more.
Besides being an expert on antique dolls, toys and patterns, Gwen White (1903-86) is also an extraordinary but often overlooked book illustrator, as revealed in some of these humorous, beautiful full-page colour plates.