New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-10
RNrINErs HISTORY or COSTUME.

~ 60 tuNE iIlsIOWQuE lnr A. N,'iSlE I',,s
ftum, ptdo tio NV r"r1 D. W. ''''''' '"'
rut,n 10, 800 ,
11,c admirable and exhaustive work of NJ. Rn-
cinct o. IA ,torcal co,tum, has reached iis nj
treuth pat. fwo-thirl- of the work have there
fore bcen paccd In the hands of the suhscrlhotS
and h,re can % no doubt ms 10 the talthInl lull
meat Of all the promises made by the author ana
publishers IN the prospectus lie undertaking
was q considerable one for IT involved no less IMAM
"a collection and correction we'll as reproduction
of the bulk of very numerous
series of simil ar though less comprehensive WORKS.
tOgcti er with an artistic treatment lar III advance
of any preceding history of costumes ana an
amount of research which fully accounts for the
Io,v proress of the publlca ion As il Is, the sub
seribers will have much more than history OF cos
tnmc. They will have history of furniture OF
icNclrv of weapons of pottery and faience, and TO
some extent of domestic architecture also. And
whllc the extent of the ground covered Is remark
| able, the artistic details are worked out
with the most scrupulOus dehcacy ana care
! The illustrations are of two kinds, W.,
colored land adorned with silver and gold
and merely neutral tinted In all cases
however, the work is eXcellcntly well zone
The d0uble-colored cartoons, one OF when accom-
panics each part in several instances Icploduc-
lions of famous pictures. The figures chosen 10
illustrate costumes of different eras are, wherever
portraits of celebrated personages, so that
AL unusual historical value attaches TO them. The
literature of the various subjects treated has been
>tcd in the choice of illustrations and cXplica-
,t.l. The authorities are IN every case gwen
,,,o~onver and when possible their statements have
been verified by careful comparison aud original
research Throuy hcut the work most commend
3bic determination Is exhibited to give the
host examples and the most exact and trustworthy
descriptions. Many Of the explanations OF particu-
Ian plctures. especially those accompanying views
ot interiors are really compact and complete little
ESSAYS on interesting antiquarian topics. Nothing
Is left undc.crbcd. Nothing IN the work is either
uoacre or excessive. confused. The freshest
views of the souudcst authorities upon a the sub
iccfs treated are sought and is scarcely necessary
to saw that the special knowledge OF NJ. Racnct
adds NEATLY to the value of the work.
There are plenty Of histories of costume cxtant,
bon, there is not one on the scale of this one, and
when 1t J., completed it will uuquestlonably CON
.,ir,tr the most important and indispensable
resume of the whole subject. The mechanical
exccIitIon of the work il as near perfection ~
human Skin can attain. Everything has been done
to sati,fy the most fasidious subscriber. Nothing
moro luxuIlous than the largo paper copies Of
Racnot can bs desired and the ordinary sized copies
are themselves much superior 20 the average
,dfon de lure Plates. coloriug, Typography, paper.
each and all are of the best material and workman
.hir and though the subscribers will undoubtedly
have waited a good many years for tho completion
of tle undertaking fboy viii have the satisfaction
Of knowing tuat the work has been well worth
waiting for