1940 Design for the Craftsman by Franklin H. Gottshall - Signed First Edition

Hey fellow makers, woodworkers, metalheads, and vintage design nerds – feast your eyes on this absolute treasure! It's the 1940 first edition of 'Design for the Craftsman' by Franklin H. Gottshall, Director of Industrial Arts at Martha Berry College. This isn't just any old book... it's SIGNED by the author himself on the title page! There's even a sweet handwritten dedication from August 1949 to Mrs. J. Thomas Stevenson. Talk about real-deal provenance and mid-century charm. Inside you'll find pure gold: chapters on creative thinking, balance, proportion, the curved line in enrichment, color harmony (with gorgeous plates showing complementary, analogous, and triad schemes featuring dragons and mythical beasts), plus practical examples of furniture like Chippendale cabinets, Sheraton bookcases, Spanish varguenos, wrought-iron andirons, and more. There are diagrams, photos, color wheels, and even a full back-cover list of other Bruce Publishing craft books. It's like having a 1940s master craftsman giving you private lessons on everything from occult balance to making the perfect fern dish or jewelry casket. Published by The Bruce Publishing Company in Milwaukee and printed in the USA, this hardcover classic is packed with 266 drawings and illustrations that still inspire today. Whether you're restoring period furniture, teaching design, or just love flipping through beautiful old books, this one's a keeper. Condition is Used - Good with plenty of vintage character: pages are nicely yellowed with age, some minor stains and foxing spots, cover edges show wear and old tape marks, but the binding is solid, all pages are present and readable, and there's zero musty smell. It's got history, not damage! A true collector's piece for anyone who geeks out over Gottshall's work (he also wrote the famous 'How to Build Period Furniture'). Grab it, display it, or actually use it – your workshop will thank you. Available for local pickup in Drums, PA

 _gsrx_vers_1736 (GS 9.9.5 (1736))

Item specifics

Used - Good — Vintage 1940 hardcover, author-signed with 1949 inscription. Pages yellowed with minor stains/foxing, cover edges worn with old tape marks. Binding solid, all pages intact and readable. No missing sections or major tears. — Defects: ['Yellowed pages throughout with age spots and minor stains/foxing', 'Cover edges frayed with wear and old adhesive/tape residue', 'Handwritten author signature and 1949 inscription on title page', 'Slight spine wear and page edge softening consistent with 86-year age', 'No missing pages, rips, or major structural damage']

Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.