Antique Pottery and Porcelain Collector’s Guide by Frederick Litchfield (Free PDF)

V1:

(1879 version - legible; sourced from the Internet Archive)

 

V2:

(This embedded 1879 edition gives a window into Litchfield’s world. However, since I could only upload files under 20MB, I had to compress it. For the full, original, high-quality version (with sharp images, thorough marks, and color plates), check out the downloadable 1900 PDF from the public‑domain archive: Internet Archive)

 

Summary: A Closer Look at Pottery and Porcelain: A Guide to Collectors by Frederick Litchfield

Frederick Litchfield’s Pottery and Porcelain: A Guide to Collectors is a standout resource in the world of ceramics. First issued in 1879, the 1900 edition published by Truslove, Hanson & Comba spans 362 pages plus front matter, featuring about 150 detailed illustrations from various pottery factories, seven color plates, including a lovely frontispiece, and a full set of marks and monograms from leading makers.

That original clamshell binding, with gilt motifs and lettering, still looks sharp today. The inside remains strongly bound even if slightly strained in spots. The pages stay bright and clear, though you may notice some light spotting on the endsheets or edges. It doesn’t interfere with reading, but adds a touch of period authenticity.

Later editions, like the 1912 revised and augmented edition, grew even richer. That version runs around 510 pages, adds three new color plates, and pushes the count to more than 150 black‑and‑white illustrations. The publisher also switched to trimmer olive cloth with gilt details, making it a solid visual upgrade.

And by the 1925 fourth edition, the book swelled further. That version features 72 full‑page plates, with eight in vivid color, plus even more text illustrations and updated sections on factory marks and collecting advice. It’s clear Litchfield kept refining his work to serve collectors better.