"Calico Mann:  The Manny Kopp Fabric Collection" by Bobbie Aug and Sharon Newman with Paul Kopp is a wonderful find I believe you will enjoy if you enjoy looking at fabric swatches, especially older ones, as much as I do.  Here's an image of the cover:



Mr. Kopp's father, Manny, was a fabric designer, lecturer and collector.  He amassed the amazing collection of swatches that are presented in this book under chapters entitled Stripes, Calicos, Indigoes, Leno Weaves, and Poor Brothers' Salesman Samples among others.

There is a touching and informative foreward by Mr. Paul Kopp and then only a few short pages by Ms. Aug and Ms. Newman which provide important historical information on the Kopp swatches.  But the book really is concerned with presenting hundreds of historic swatches in a direct and beautiful manner.  The book states that there are over 1,300 swatches inside dating from about 1830 to 1925.

There are no projects in this book.  Just stacks of swatches, detailed with dates and some notes.  This collection must be so wonderful to view.

I keep thinking of the care Mr. Kopp must have taken to have emassed such a collection.  It is evident in the notes by his son and so evident in the expansive selection of fabrics in this book.

If you love textile history like I do you will truly appreciate this book.

Best,

Fiona